Cricket: Australian fans turn against home side losers

HOBART - While New Zealand and South Africa were battling for outright first place in the World Series Cup in Hobart yesterday, the host team were licking their wounds and copping the inevitable press vitriol.

The Australians were lauded a week ago for their test series demolition of the Proteas, but their humbling losses to each of their WSC opponents at the Melbourne Cricket Ground have turned sentiment against them.

Combined with the disgraceful crowd behaviour in Friday's tournament opener against New Zealand, it was a disastrous start for the world's proudest cricketing nation.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming wisely elected not to comment on the form of the Australians when asked by local journalists yesterday.

He knows better than anyone what the world champions are capable of when they find form, and did not want to give them any extra motivation before tomorrow's day-night clash in Sydney.

The Australian batting has come in for most criticism after twice being dismissed for less than 200.

The team's cause was not helped by news on Monday that wicketkeeper-opener Adam Gilchrist had pulled out of tomorrow's match to spend time with his wife and newborn son. His place will be filled by Western Australian keeper Ryan Campbell.

Public and media alike have called for changes, most notably for the prolific test opening pair of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer to be reunited.

Langer, deemed a specialist test player, was not selected for the one-day squad.

Several members of the Australian A side who beat New Zealand and South Africa in warm-up matches last week have been touted as saviours, particularly their experienced captain Darren Lehmann.

The Australian rotation policy, which the selectors have said they are halting temporarily, has also come under much criticism.

The Melbourne Age said Australia's "insipid" batting was the best medicine for calming the rowdy crowd in Bay 13 because of its sleep-inducing qualities.

"As though chastened by the excesses of Friday night's capitulation to New Zealand, the Australians batted [against South Africa] with the type of uncertainty they usually inspire in opponents," its report said.

"Most telling was the manner of the Australian dismissals.

"That Michael Bevan and Ricky Ponting were run out by metres revealed more about the Australian state of mind than it did about the proficiency of the South African fielding."

Columnist Peter Roebuck wrote: "The hosts looked as uneasy as a couple on a blind date.

"Australia's running raised memories of hectic anklebiters playing in parks with parents bellowing, fieldsmen rushing in all directions and batsmen regularly meeting at the same end to discuss their next step."

Roebuck said several of the Australians were obviously still adjusting to the speed of the shortened game, but could not afford to take much longer.

"Certainly, the Kiwis and the Proteas must like their chances of winning this tournament. Right now, little is between all three teams and the hosts must freshen their games and minds or suffer the consequences."

New Zealand are likely to face Australia's test bowling lineup at the SCG, consisting of pacemen Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, alongside legspinner Shane Warne, who can be a handful on the traditional turning pitch there.

- NZPA