Australia need to drop ‘nice guy’ tag, insists Stuart Clark

Australia currently trail India by 1-0 in the ongoing four-match Test series and hold the edge in the second Test being played at Perth as they led the visitors by 233 runs on day four. The pressure was on the home team ahead of the series as the Indians were labeled as favourites to pull-off a rare win on Australian soil under the leadership of Virat Kohli.

However, former Australian pacer Stuart Clark has insisted that the Australians would have to drop their newly developed image of ‘nice guys’ if things continue to remain the same. Under Tim Paine, the Australian team suffered consecutive defeats to Pakistan and South Africa in recent months.

“At the moment, Australia are trying to be these nice guys that play hard but fair and all that, and you know what they’re doing a great job, but if they don’t start winning it will become a problem for everyone,” Clark, who picked 94 wickets for in 24 Tests for Australia, told Fox Sports.

Australian cricket culture has been questioned ever since the infamous Sandpaper Scandal, with newly appointed coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine trying desperately to reinvent the image. However, without their star pair of Steven Smith and David Warner, the Australian team have failed to live up to their previous reputation in all three formats of the game, losing series against South Africa, England and Pakistan. 

Meanwhile, the ongoing oral feud between Kohli & Paine has a clear indicator that India are on the hunt for a win and are looking to outplay the home team by hook or by crook. But the former Australian fast bowler was adamant that the hosts’ would not be pushovers and will put up a strong front against Ravi Shastri’s boys.

“They’re caught at the moment the Australian cricket team. They’re trying to be competitive without getting too close to the line and things like that. They’re not showing enough emotion.

“I don’t think we’re going to be pushovers because sooner or later winning will become important to everyone. It looks like they’re going to win this Test — they’re in the box seat. But how long until winning becomes more of an issue than behaviour? At the moment, if you’re winning all the time, you’ve got nothing to pick on, well behaviour. You’re not winning at the moment, how long until that turns around?” Clark added.