Australia flaunt their management skills
R Navneet Prabhu - 31 March 2003

Ricky Ponting, beaming as he held aloft the World Cup, has yet again reaffirmed the indisputable authority of the Australians as the number one cricket team in the world today. The much-debated axing of the battle-hardened Waugh twins, the suspension of Shane Warne, and Jason Gillespie’s unfortunate injury and subsequent exit hardly seemed to affect a side that was rich in bench-strength.

That reserve strength was reflected in players like Andy Bichel, Brad Hogg and Andrew Symonds skyrocketing onto the world scene in fine fashion. But then again, this Aussie resilience should hardly have come as a surprise from a team that is known for rising from the ashes, hitting back when the chips are down, and gritting their teeth in the face of adversity.

The eyebrows that rose after Ponting’s appointment as skipper would have come down by quite a few centimetres after the magnificent World Cup win, one that capped off a stunning record of seventeen wins in a row. Punter’s infamous brashness and brusque attitude seems to have melted with the burden of captaincy and he has continued a proud tradition of successful Australian skippers.

So what is the magic potion that gives Punter’s tormentors such vigour and never-say-die spirit? The makings of the team would suggest that talent- and ability-wise, they are no richer than the Indian team, but there has got to be a secret weapon that gives them the edge in pressure situations. The Australian cricket set-up, right from the administrational level to the players in Pura Cup cricket, is marinated with professionalism, and that gives them the unmistakable flavour of a world-beating side.

The Australian captain symbolises this hard-core professionalism, and he is more like a manager of a corporation who must deal with his employees effectively. He must be prepared to handle employee morale, motivation and conflict between employees, if any. The example that immediately springs to mind is the way Ponting fought for Symonds' inclusion in the side, giving him the confidence to play an innings of a lifetime against the hapless Pakistanis. Australian teams historically have had few problems of the intra-team conflicts that have plagued the sub-continental sides periodically.

The huge reservoir of talent that exists in their domestic circuit leads to an embarrassment of riches for the selectors, and just like in any corporation, the responsibility rests on the shoulders of “managers” in selecting the best people for the job. As far as the Australian selection committee is concerned, they take players as they find them, making sure that selectorial skills are top-notch and judging players not only by ability but by temperament. These selection procedures mean that, in the event of dismal results from the team, the buck stops with the captain and selectors.

Coming into this World Cup, the Australians were a tired lot after a strenuous and drawn-out Ashes series and the triangular one-day series that followed. One of the main reasons why Australian teams have done well in recent times, surmounting backbreaking international schedules, is the well-charted-out fitness regimes, backed up by thorough psychological sessions. Management experts offer some key tips to success to help firms to spruce up performance, and the Aussies seem to embody them completely.

Encourage innovation from the team An Australian captain encourages ingenuity from each of his team mates and is not afraid to take risks, keeping alive the interest in his players. Identifying and improving on work ethic may be just what a team needs for new energy. Australia, during the mid-1980s, was affected badly by the sudden retirement of top players like Dennis Lillee, Rodney Marsh and Greg Chappell, and this was after World Series cricket.

The selectors took the bold step of introducing greenhorns like Dean Jones, Steve Waugh and Craig McDermott who, after initial disappointments, did exceedingly well, winning the 1987 World Cup. Allan Border, the captain, and coach Bobby Simpson were unafraid to experiment, and they popularised the use of slower deliveries and change of pace mastered by Steve Waugh in particular.

Aim high but concentrate on small gains The Australian team no doubt aim to win the big prize, but they take things session by session. This simplifies matters to a large extent and doesn't put the added pressure of winning the series.

Raise the bar - present new challenges Expand the scope of the project or otherwise change the team's objectives so that the target becomes more challenging to members. The best example that can be given are the comments of coach John Buchannan exhorting his players to play even better after winning the World Cup and demanding perfection. That new challenges are set even after winning matches convincingly is a glowing tribute to their ambition and desire to improve.

Revisit the ground rules A new challenge may justify re- examining the ground rules set at the start of the team's campaign. The Australians are the masters of working on the basics of the game and exploiting the weaknesses of the opposing teams. Ask Daryll Cullinan and Mike Atherton, who became the pet bunnies of various Aussie bowlers.

Invite outsiders to join the team New members can bring fresh perspective to the group and generate renewed enthusiasm for the project. Visiting with or listening to other teams' stories and lore can also kick-start a burnt-out team; so can inviting visitors who have an investment in the team project. That commitment of time reminds the members of the importance of the team mission.

The Australian team has had regular interactions with sportspersons from other fields like Dawn Fraser and Rod Laver, and they make sure to learn from their experiences. Remember the team visiting the war-memorial of Australian soldiers who died in the Second World War at Gallipoli?

The vision and constant efforts by the administrators to improve their cricketing set-up to become the very best is the prime reason why Australia is ungrudgingly the best team in the world, not to mention a prime case-study for excellent man-management at any business school.

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