Captain My Captain

The position of Australian Cricket Captain is often said to be the second most important office in the land, behind only the position of Prime Minister. Personally I think this is over stating its importance to Australian life…for both positions.

For many years it could have been argued that the cricket captain had a greater influence over public confidence, winning or losing the captain set the tone. From Allan Border “Captain Grumpy” who was a personal career was successful despite playing with an often less than competitive team. He taught the team how to fight and eventually to win. Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh added their own flair to the position and built on its winning ways to make it one of the most successful sporting teams in international history.

During the same period Australian politics enjoyed the leadership Bob Hawke and John Howard, two of the longest serving Prime Ministers to lead the country. Both are known for building the country’s prosperity. On different sides of politics, they achieved the country’s wealth in different ways. Lets not forget Paul Keating famed for his suits and biting repartee, he embodied the countries wealth.

Ricking Ponting despite his own personal success, as captain reintroduced the notion of losing to the national team. Politically Kevin Rudd took office. Like his sporting counterpart his form after taking office started to slump until he was forced to voluntarily step aside.

We now have Michael Clarke and Julia Gillard. Both of them highly capable in their own rights. Both of them suffering in the realm of leadership. Both of their teams are in a tail spin, the more they spin the more they lose and the more public ridicule they receive.

In the past week the cricket team, in the middle of a lengthening losing streak, chose to suspend four players. Three of these suspended players were potentially the most likely to contribute to an Australian victory. Australia lost the test match.

At the same time as following the sports team’s example Australia’s governing party suspended logic calling for a leadership spill despite the absence of anyone else wanting to be leader. Let’s be honest who would want to lead the national Labor party at the moment?

When Michael Clarke injured his back the only alternative for captain was Shane Watson – one of the players previously suspended for not abiding to team rules. He was also quite vocal about his dislike of the direction of Cricket Australia’s direction or personnel.

Whilst the parallels between Watson and Rudd are alarming, Rudd at least had the dignity to not accept the offer to lead.

Unfortunately for the Australian public we do not have any viable or palatable alternatives for either leadership position. Watson, Warner, Rudd, Abbott none of their personal form nor their recent public comments warrants their being elevated to such an honour. At the same time Clarke and Gillard have nothing to deserve their maintaining the role.

Maybe it is just time complete change, maybe Australian football codes can offer examples of decency and leadership that our political parties can follow.

Oh wait…