After some big controversies in recent times that have affected the Australian cricket team hugely, they are now focusing on rebuilding the national side. Talking about this, the head coach Justin Langer claimed that they have to develop as a nation to make Australia proud and it doesn’t matter which particular part mostly develops the great players.
Langer recently said, “We’ve got some great teams in Australia, but the Australian cricket team – it’s the whole country. It’s not some of the eastern states who love a particular sport, it’s Australia’s team and if we can make Australians proud, that’s what we stand for. The other part of it is we develop great cricketers, but also great Australians. They go hand in hand for me. It’s not just about being a good cricketer, it’s about being a good person as well. If we can do that, we’re achieving our goals.”
Since the ball-tampering incident happened in last March during the Cape Town Test, Australian cricket has hugely suffered due to missing some of their regular and experienced cricketers. Moreover, some top members related to the national cricket team have also resigned from their posts in this period and it has also put a big impact on their present cricket.
The present Test captain Tim Paine, who has taken the charge of the team immediately just after the ball-tampering scandal, supported Langer’s word and feels they are on the right track.
Paine told cricket.com.au, “It’s a bit of a self-check thing for us, with everything that we’re doing whether it be on the field or off the field. If you can ask yourself that question – ‘am I making my fellow Australians proud?’ – and answer that with a ‘yes’ then we’re on the right track. That’s what’s driving us at the moment.”
Also read: Tim Paine Clarifies The Doubts Of Michael Clarke
Paine started his full Test captaincy through a handshake with the opposition captain. Talking about the sportsmanship and respectful, Paine added that it doesn’t mean they are going to be overly nice or a bit soft.
Paine said, “I just think it’s a bit of a no-brainer – it’s a show of sportsmanship, and that’s about it. It doesn’t mean we’re going to be the nicest team in the world to play against, by any stretch of the imagination. We’re still going to be really competitive and really fierce out on the ground, but I think there’s just got to be that respect between the two sides.
“I think some people just took it the wrong way – they thought it means the Australian cricket team is going to be overly nice, or a bit soft, but it’s not that at all. It’s just about having respect for your opposition, respect for the game, but as soon as we cross the line we’re absolutely in it to win it.”
Recently, the former Australian World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke advised playing the tough games as walk away from it would not help the team anyway to win a game.
