During December 2018 the rugby news from Australia was dominated by the Cheika saga and a lot was written about his replacement. The less rugby-educated members on site forecasted that Cheika would be fired and should be replaced by for instance Jake White. The latter even tried to set up a tele-communication to advance his own agenda to be appoint as Aussie head coach. The Aussie rugby authority denied that one - since at the time there was no vacancy in any event,
The Ausies knew that it was too near to the WC - with only about 5 tests to be played before that event and then did what is normal under such circumstances - retain the coach, but reduce his powers and put in charge a Director of Rugby with increased powers, Whether that would work out is another question - which will only be answered in 2019.
I have my doubts though - there are serious problems with Union Rugby s a sport and while the national team declines in results the situation will not be reversed.
Now what about the Australian Cricket situation. I am afraid not much better either, After the Aussies beat the English in the Ashes series - they went belly-up losing the ODI series by 4 - 1, So what happened subsequently?
* In February they beat NZ in the Trans Tasman T20 series 5 - 0
* In March-April Australlia had to play SA in what became known as the sandpaper scandal. The question immediately arises whether the same technique was not used in the Ashes series. Be it as it may the scandal has had world-wide implications and the captain and his assistants got long bans - Smith and Warner for one year and Handscom for 9 months. They lost the test series 3 - 1
* In June the Aussies played a 5 ODI series in England - in which they lost all 5 matches.
* Australia, Pakistand and Zimbabwe played in a three nations T20 series, in which the Aussies won 3 games - one agauiinst Pakistan and two against Zimbabwe. They lost two game against Pakistan - the last one being the final in the series.
* In October they played two tests against the Pakistani's away and one opf those was drawn and the other one drawn. A subsequent T20 series followed. In a subsequent 4 match T20 series Pakistan beat them 3 - 1
* In November 2018 they played SA in four ODI internationals and won only 1 of those
* In late November the played 4 T20 games against Indoa and won only 1 of those
* In December they played three tests and the result was a 2 - 1 Victory for India,
The following is summary of what happened to Australia in tests and ODI's in 2018:-
Tests
Played Won Lost Drawn
England 1 1 0 0
South Africa 4 1 3 0
Pakistan 2 0 1 1
India 3 1 2 0
10 3 6 1
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ODI’s
Played Won Lost Drawn
England 5 1 4
England 5 0 5
South Africa 4 1 3
14 2 12
Pathetic to say the least and marred by one of the worst scandals in cricket ever.
So if their rugby in a mess 0 is their cricket not in a similar disaster zone?
