I think we need to start picking players who have the mentality to play Australia. Players that will take them on head-first and play the sort of aggressive cricket that beats teams like that. We have guys like that in GP, Sears, Henry, and I feel like someone like Nathan Smith is similar. There's just no point picking Will Young. Tom Latham, you have to, because there's no other opener, but he's not helping you win anything in 2026-27 v a side he averages 26 against. I'd like us to identify talent, but also mindset. Who are the guys at domestic level who have the fire to not put up with this **** anymore?
I struggle with the thought that a mental block has to only involve players from the current generation and can't be passed down eras. South Africa's World Cup side would tell you that's not true. You're right, it's not tangible, but you can sense the 'I'm not sure if we're good enough' vibe when we play Australia...in long forms. T20s are a different mental capacity. Truth is, we play against Australia completely differently to how we play any other side in the world, no matter what form we're in.