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With Australia’s miraculous and unnerving victory over South Africa in Cape Town the summer tests concluded, albeit in March. The greatest single summer of cricket in living memory for Australia, one that four months ago was seemingly impossible. One directed by Michael Clarke and a team of misfits who have played right on the edge between joyful celebration and egotistical rage. Even on that last evening, with the time working against his team Clarke launched one more verbal assault on the opposition. Aside from the seventh test in Port Elizabeth, there has been an undecipherable inevitability about Australia’s dominance. Wickets seemed certain to fall whenever Mitchell Johnson bowled, Dave Warner became more and more invincible. This summer was something else.
Impossible to think, but when the squad for the first Ashes test was announced, Twitter sighed with anguish at the inclusion of Johnson. Another go for a wasted talent. Warner was still there, and despite promising performances, the public still saw him as having a bigger mouth and ability to open against the red ball. Brad Haddin was old, despite a good tour of England, Steve Smith was wild and unreliable, Chris Rogers was a fill in, Ryan Harris was a delivery away from retirement (and still is) and Nathan Lyon was the best of a poor bunch. When Clarke was bounced out by Broad on the first day the Ashes felt further away than ever.
A win in Brisbane, on the back of a home ground fortress and reliance on Haddin felt big, but not that big. But when Johnson went through England at the Adelaide Oval the series was suddenly over. The sheer desperation, intimidation and ridiculous skill of Australia had ripped England apart. Just as Shane Warne laughingly ripped England’s hearts out at the same venue in 2006, Johnson had finished off the enemy mentally and physically. Every player had a moment (even George Bailey) and Australia looked untouchable. Their side wasn’t complete but it was enough. A thumping against England was treated with trepidation when looking forward to touring South Africa. England had folded, their team in disarray and players dropping like flies. The world’s best team wouldn’t be like this, surely.
It was like that, at least for two thirds of the series. Australia waltzed into South Africa and defeated the best team in the world, dominating them twice out of three. More victims were won, Jacques Kallis got out of the oncoming train before it got to the station, Graeme Smith got off when it did. Aside from the indomitable AB de Villiers, Australia was on top of the whole team. Warner ensured the best bowlers on the planet looked worthless and Johnson kept bowling fast and straight. Two of the most divisive figures in the side are now national heroes, Johnson has gone from wasted talent to the “once in a generatino bowler” Dennis Lillee famously talked about. Warner has gone from a big mouth with no control, to a big mouth who makes runs. His sledging suddenly unnerves the opposition and he is backing it up.
Throughout the summer of domination the test side has played on the edge, the skipper more than any. Clarke’s attacks on James Anderson and Dale Steyn will be seen as bullying bowlers by doubters and typical Australian domination by others. These Australians have lived alongside their nation, never accepting authority and always looking to dominate. While Clarke has admitted to overstepping the line, he has kept a strong tradition of keeping the foot on the throat.
Perhaps nobody has typified this summer of the baggy green like Harris. Like his team, Harris wasn’t expected to string together multiple games of quality. Like his team, Harris strung together two series of absolute quality. Instead of being one delivery away from injury, Harris became one delivery away from glory. He picked the right time to rise again, possibly for the final time. Harris’ unbelievable final over against South Africa has already become the stuff of legend. Bowling through pain and towards victory, Harris will go down as one of the greats in a short and always-ending career. There may never be a summer as complete and as riveting as this one, where domination has become expected and the team has delivered almost out of nowhere. Long may the summer of the baggy green live on.
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