Aussies receive media mauling

By Dan Warren

BAD HEADLINE DAY The worst defeat in our history The Australian Aus caught with pants down Sydney Morning Herald Dark day for Aussie cricket Seven News Australia's misery continues Herald Sun Australia hurting as they continue to search for answers sportsaustralia.com

If you cast your mind back seven days, you may recall the air of disbelief after England's 100-run win in the Twenty20 match against Australia.

Sure, England fans were ecstatic at the resounding victory, but many analysts urged them to make the most of it, warning that it may not happen again.

But one week - and three further defeats later - and that unexpected blip has grown into a tumultuous week which has prompted plenty of rare bad press for the tourists.

Losses against Somerset on 15 June and England on 19 June bracketed a defeat against Bangladesh in Cardiff on Saturday which had many revising their lists of all-time sporting shocks.

Add Andrew Symonds' indiscreet late night ahead of the Bangladesh match and tabloid allegations about Shane Warne's private life into the mix and it is not surprising that the uncomplimentary headlines have followed.

Broadsheet The Australian pulled no punches saying that on Saturday "Australian cricket endured its darkest day".

"No wonder we lost to Bangladesh" reads their headline, as they refer to the off-field indiscretions, before speaking of how the world champions were "embarrassed and shocked" by the Tigers.

Australia's rivals are doubled-up laughing after copping years of beltings and bullyings Journalist Andrew Ramsey

Reaction to that five-wicket loss at Sophia Gardens has inflicted even more of a shock than Sunday's defeat by England.

Veteran Australian cricket commentator Jim Maxwell is writing a weblog of his time in England - and his change in tone between Monday and Saturday is striking.

"Only a mug punter could believe that England's comprehensive 100-run victory is a portent for the Ashes series," he wrote after the Twenty20 defeat, adding: "Australia were netting while England were playing."

But after the Somerset loss, he writes that Australia were "predictable and far too accommodating".

Come Sunday: "Even Kevin Pietersen's dramatic innings couldn't outpoint Bangladesh and their 20-year-old hero Mohammed Ashraful for top billing... The biggest upset in the history of one-day cricket was no fluke."

Some commentators are grappling with the reality of Bangladesh's win, with Christopher O'Leary, writing for sportsaustralia.com, admitting: "I think I just had a nightmare.

AUSTRALIA'S CALAMITIES June 11: Thieves steal kit and equipment prior to match v Leics June 13: Eng beat Aus by 100 runs in Twenty20 match at Rose Bowl June 15: Somerset score 345-6 in 46.5 overs to win at Taunton June 18 (morning): Andrew Symonds dropped after breaking team rules June 18 (afternoon): Bangladesh beat Aus by five wickets in huge shock June 19 (morning): Sunday tabloid allegations made about Shane Warne June 19 (afternoon): Pietersen inspires Eng to three-wicket NatWest Series win England win Twenty20 Somerset in stunning win Bangladesh humble Aussies Pietersen seals win

"Picture this, I was dreaming of the horrendous day when a ragtag outfit from Bangladesh, minnows who would have a tough time of it against Canada, smashed an Australian outfit in a game of cricket."

Coming back to the real world, he adds: "I stared at my television in utter disbelief".

Journalist Adam Cooper does not mince his words.

"Australia's world champion cricket team now has another place in history and its Ashes tour a place in the doghouse," he writes.

Neither does The Sydney Morning Herald hold back, labelling Australia: "Disgraceful on the field, a disgrace off it."

Elsewhere, writer Chloe Saltau says: "Losses to England in a Twenty20 match and Somerset in a county game were one thing, but the unthinkable five-wicket loss to Bangladesh, the world's worst international one-day team, invited a different scale of embarrassment altogether."

There are still some calls for temperance, however. After the Twenty20 game, The Guardian's Lawrence Booth led calls for England fans to make the most of a moment that "might never happen again" .

One week later, he is not alone in those thoughts.

The Australian's Andrew Ramsey warns: "It may be too early to call in the obituary writers.

"Australia's rivals are doubled-up laughing after copping years of beltings and bullyings from Steve Waugh's then Ricky Ponting's men."

And he adds: "Recent Australian teams start tours and tournaments slowly and peak when the money matches are being staged."

Those revelling in the caustic comments levelled at Australia may yet be celebrating too soon.