Stumps & Bumps: a wake up call for the Aussies

The series loss in South Africa has raised alarm bells for the Australian Test squad with past players, commentators, and fans alike all clamoring for change as the team faces two big series in the new year against India at home, and then the Ashes on English soil.

According to SEN Cricket's Bharat Sundaresan the selectors have fallen into a level of complacency, relying on the past triumphs of Pat Cummins team to bring them results.

"It feels like when you look at the team whether it's retaining Marnus for as long as they have, or even the fact that they've been unable to bring in enough fresh faces, it's a bit like they've just gone back to the nWo well. It feels like they have persisted with it and now we're in the nWo ‘Silver and Black’ era when Jeff Jarrett and The Harris Brothers were part of it" said Sundaresan on Stumps And Bumps.

The nWo (New World Order) was a groundbreaking storyline in World Championship Wrestling in 1996 becoming one of the most influential groups in wrestling history which at one stage had NBA superstar Dennis Rodman skip a Chicago Bulls training to appear as a member of the faction. Led by Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash the success of the group helped WCW beat rival WWE in the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.

By 1999 however over-saturation and repetitive storytelling contributed to the groups decline with it's final incarnation a shell of it's popularity that eventually led to WCW going out of business in 2001 and eventual buyout by the WWE. Unlike the nWo, the Australian Test side looks to have reached the need for change in order to face the challenges of opponents that are building for the next generation with squads infused with youth amongst veterans.

"I think Australia's got their circuit breaker and their wake up call. They need some fresh blood, but when you look at India it just happens almost organically."

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