Clarke's Australians face acid test on home soil

Michael Clarke's beleaguered group has only played one match since it was condemned as the worst Australian Test lineup in decades. To the relief of millions of armchair selectors — for cricket is the national summer game — that one game was a gritty comeback win to level the series in South Africa. Yet, in the latest sign of how the once mighty has fallen, only a week or so later Clarke's injury-plagued squad is considered little better than an even-money chance heading into the opening game of a two-Test series against New Zealand, who haven't won a Test in Australia since 1985. Those Black Caps victories, inspired by Richard Hadlee, came at a time when Allan Border was rebuilding the team in the wake of the World Series Cricket schism of the late 1970s, the retirements of Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell and the further fractures caused by the rebel tours to South Africa. Period of dominance Border's teams went 14 Tests without a win before gaining traction, winning the 1987 World Cup and then dominating the 1989 Ashes. That ushered in a long period of dominance for Australia which rendered the dark days of the mid-1980s to the deep recesses of memory. Such memories were sharply revived earlier thismonth, when Clarke's team was dismissed for 47 and lost the first Test by eight wickets to South Africa at Cape Town. Respected cricket analyst Malcom Conn, noting the insipid innings and a record of two wins in 12 Tests, declared them "the worst Australian side in a quarter of a century". "Not since Allan Border single-handedly held the team together in the mid-1980s has the Test side played so poorly," he said. That cloud of pessimism was temporarily lifted in the next game, thanks largely to the efforts of 18-year-old debutant fast bowler Pat Cummins, who snared six wickets in the second innings and hit the winning runs in a thrilling two-wicket victory at Johannesburg. Things seemed to be on the up until Australia's apparent teenage saviour and four other front-line players — Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh — were ruled out of the opening Test against New Zealand due to injury. Making matters worse, the three young quicks who were added to the Test squad made little impact in a tour match against New Zealand last weekend. Even New Zealand coach John Wright, who played in the '85 win, courteously thanked the Australian selectors for giving his batsmen a look at the young bowlers. After flaying the Australia A attack for 175, including 16 sixes over the white picket boundaries at Allan Border Field, Jesse Ryder could barely conceal a smirk as he spoke with a quiet assuredness about New Zealand's prospects. ‘Bit down' "We got what we needed out of it," Ryder said of the four-day tour match. "Going into the first Test, everybody's confidence is pretty high." Ryder concedes that, from what he's heard, the Australians "seem a little bit down at the moment". A victory "would mean the world to the [New Zealand] cricket public", Ryder said. "It would mean the world to us, too." New Australia coach Mickey Arthur will have for his first game in charge an attack featuring two of the three uncapped pacemen — Ben Cutting, James Pattinson or left-armer Mitchell Starc — and led by Peter Siddle, who has played only 25 Test matches himself. David Warner, a success in the shorter formats, will make his Test debut as opener alongside Phil Hughes, who hasn't even cemented his spot in the team.