REMEMBER the days when Australia A would field a loaded batting line-up against our top team?
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In the 1994-95 one day series, which also involved England and Zimbabwe, our so-called 'reggies' featured future household names like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Greg Blewett and Damien Martyn.
Most of those guys would have walked into other international sides, but in that era you simply had to make ton after ton in state cricket to bash the door down.
How times have changed.
Australia's bowlers, in particular Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon, have copped flak for a lack of potency against the plucky Indians, who followed a gallant draw in Sydney with an historic series-clinching victory at the Gabba this week.
But it's the batsman who should come most under the microscope. Where are they?
Fifteen years ago, the national selectors' meetings probably would have taken 15 minutes to pick a dominant team loaded with legends before heading to the pub.
Nowadays, a polished 60 in the Big Bash League is enough for some pundits to gush about a newcomers' chances of breaking into the Test top six.
Matthew Wade is 33 years old, averages just under 30 in Tests and has had more brain explosions than Donald Trump this summer. But he's still wearing his baggy green because there's no obvious replacements demanding to be picked.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are under more pressure than Clive Palmer's belt strap to hold the innings together. Aside from Will Pucovski, who has proven his ability to do so in Shield cricket, occupying the crease for long periods is becoming a lost art.
The Big Bash can take plenty of blame for this worrying trend. Big money awaits for big hitters in the domestic Twenty20 competition, meaning the motivation to develop the concentration and application required to succeed in red ball cricket is dwindling.
When fresh blood is needed in Australia's batting ranks, the selectors are often stuck between a rock and a hard place as potential candidates aren't getting the chance to prove themselves with Shield cricket on hiatus during the BBL.
Throw in the need for 'bubbles' during the COVID era, and the task is all the more difficult. Some fans expected more of Marcus Harris when he was thrust into the side to open in the fourth Test. But without being afforded the chance to play even at grade cricket level to stay match ready, what chance was he coming in cold against one of the world's best bowling attacks?
So what's the answer?
It's a difficult one for Cricket Australia to tackle, given the TV money and new eyeballs on the game the BBL generates is necessary for the future of the game.
But it also means we're nurturing a generation brought up watching the 'hit and giggle' format of the game, who don't dream of earning a baggy green as much as previous generations.
HAIL SAINT NICK
Nick Kyrgios has more perspective than just about any other tennis player in the world right now.
Had you written that even a few short months ago you could have been institutionalised, but the Canberran's appraisal of world number one Novak Djokovic as a 'tool' this week is spot on.
Djokovic's complaining, as well as some other tennis players, of the hotel quarantine they're required to do before the Australian Open demonstrates a complete lack of perspective from the game's elite.
The whinging of these rich stars, who will earn around $100,000 even if they lost in the first round of the opening major of the year, was never going to go down well with an Australian public which has sacrificed plenty to ensure COVID is contained more effectively than most countries.
Those sacrifices have made it possible for these athletes to compete, which has been acknowledged by many.
But it's the delusional rants of the few, led by Djokovic, which has ensured many of us would rather the Australian Open not go ahead this year.
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