Not eloquent, but effective

Mr Abbott speaks slowly. Sometimes excruciatingly, painfully enunciating an argument for media consumption.

His non-speaking capabilities away from the camera, however, appear to indicate he has strong relationship-building skills that are both verbal and non-verbal.

He is the first of the modern crop of Australian prime ministers to have a physical presence and sporting capabilities. In a world where sport plays a major role in the lives of most Australian children and adults, Whitlams, Frasers, Hawkes, Keatings, Howards, Rudds and Gillards proved relatively incapable.

For a man his age Mr Abbott demonstrates strong capabilities. Combined with his academic qualifications they present a formidable defence.

But today's world requires skill sets to be highly specialised – a generalist is no longer seen as being of value. The media supports this premise because as individuals they rarely have generalist skills themselves.

They have been trained in theoretical concepts. They abhor physicality because it mirrors their inadequacies. They like to frame Mr Abbott's surfing, cycling and running as bogan activities unbecoming of a national leader. Yet Mr Obama golfs. David Cameron runs and cycles.

Mr Abbott builds global relationships across political boundaries. He has engaged successfully with China, Japan, Indonesia, England, Canada and the United States.

He has not, as far as I am aware, enunciated a position on Scottish independence but it would be relatively easy to determine by mapping his previous diplomacy.

What frustrates the left is Mr Abbott's capacity to withstand and absorb their blows. He is a formidable opponent and this usually commands respect from oppositions on or off the field of sport, battle or politics.

There is nothing usual about Australian politics, however, and part of the reason lies in the inability of many of its members to enunciate a coherent argument on an issue.

Oratory and rhetoric have been displaced by personal attack. Left-of-centre politicians and media mock Mr Abbott's pronunciation, his use of schoolboy French and his stilted, hesitating method of speech.

Yet they ignore his overall presence in the public sphere, a presence which is measured and effective in diplomacy and statesmanship.

I would go as far as to say history will judge Mr Abbott's diplomacy, communication and statesmanship comparatively with the best of the modern era if he can maintain his dual strategy; measured, staccato media delivery, combined with a more natural relationship-building as he locates himself in the global public sphere.