Following a plethora of high profile retirements, Australia’s fortunes have slumped and they are now ranked fourth in the world, a single rating point ahead of fifth-placed Sri Lanka in the ICC Test rankings.
“What I think Australia might have done wrong is be a bit impatient and try to replace those players very quickly, particularly in the bowling department,” said Walsh, who finished with 519 wickets from 132 Tests – the most by any West Indies player.
“It’s certainly a reality check, to lose two of the world’s greatest bowlers (Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath) at the same time.
“The right approach to take, I believe, is to identify a group of players that you think long term are going to be able to do the job.
“I think rotating two guys in one position over a period of time enables you to start to see who is going to be up to the task. Once you know that one of the guys is starting to do the job, you must stick with them.”
Walsh, who quit international cricket nine years ago, snatched 135 wickets in 38 Tests against the Australians at an average of 28.
Hailed as one of the game’s greatest exponent of the art, the icon said he was particularly disappointed in left-armer Mitchell Johnson who he said had not lived up to expectations.
“What I find difficult to understand is that when I first saw Mitchell Johnson bowl I was very, very impressed. But since then I don’t think his game has improved as much as I anticipated,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Walsh as saying.
“Maybe my expectations of him were too high, but he hasn’t gone forward as much or as quickly as I would have thought. To be honest, I hoped for a little bit more from him.
“I do think he’s got something special in him and now it’s a matter of getting it out and on to the ground.”
Johnson was axed for the second Test in Adelaide but included for the third one starting Thursday in Perth, and Walsh believes his dropping could have been the wake-up call he needed. (CMC)
