Lisa Sthalekar: Don't forget the contributions of Mitch Marsh, Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood

This week we said goodbye to 2024 and for those of us that were able to stay awake until midnight on New Yea’s Eve you might have sung Auld Lang Syne - a traditional Scottish song to bid farewell to the old year to bring in the new one.

The song begins, “should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” Posing a rhetorical question, is it right that old times be forgotten?

When we think in terms of cricket, Tests more so than any other format, will always be remembered. Driven by stats, records and individual milestones, how can it be forgotten and we have recently seen a Test match at the MCG that will go down as one of the best games in history.

Just ask the 373,691 people that attended the Boxing Day match to break the Don Bradman era Ashes record in 1936-37 for highest attendance in this country for a Test.

At the start of 2025, you sense that we are going into a new era of Australian cricket. We got a glimpse with Sam Konstas on Boxing Day morning, though let’s hope that he can show the traditional fans that he isn’t a one trick pony.

Inside the Australian team, the players and the coaching staff have built a fortress enabling players to feel comfortable to be themselves. This was brilliantly demonstrated after the shock loss of the first Test in Perth and the ability of the team to bounce back emphatically in Adelaide.

Remember it was about this time last year that we celebrated and cried with Mitch Marsh as he accepted and spoke about what it meant to win the Allan Border Medal as the best Australian male player of 2023.

Though how much longer can the team carry a player who isn’t really contributing in any of the skill areas that he has been selected in?

Usman Khawaja the oldest member of the team at 38, might be the next to go. According to Michael Clarke on the Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast, he believes “it could be a great opportunity for Uzzie to announce his retirement, and Sydney to be his last Test.”

Josh Hazlewood missed the Adelaide Test due to a side strain, came back for the Gabba before being ruled out of the series because of a calf strain, which is a concern. At 33 it is the fact that Hazlewood has missed 18 of the last 34 Test matches due to various injuries. How sustainable is that, despite his performances when he is fit and able?

There is a sense that 2025 and maybe early 2026 might be the last time we see this group of players play with the baggy green.

Steve Smith has answered his critics with back-to-back hundreds and you sense that there is still something left in the tank. Hopefully form and desire keeps him going for another series at home. With England coming out, the precedent has been set by India touring, can the Ashes series rise above in popularity and entertainment with what we are witnessing this summer. Only time will tell.

In the Indian camp, it will be the last time that we see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Australia shores. The SCG might be the last test Rohit Sharma plays. At age 37 he has really struggled in Australia with scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9. With his last hundred in this format coming 15 innings ago.

Fans no doubt want better performances from their team and certainly individuals, however one thing the song Auld Lang Syne finishes with “we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

Meaning that we should take a moment in celebrating some amazing cricketers that have graced us with their skills, applauded for their contribution and will not be forgotten.