*Official* Australia in decline thread

[Uppercut]

Also when we played the west indies we weren't pushed all the way for three tests.

Oh dear. Bit of a facepalm of a comment there old boy.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wivzimsa/engine/match/298801.html

 

[Richard]

Oh dear. Bit of a facepalm of a comment there old boy.

Same as pretty well all his posts, that.

 

[Flem274*]

Australia are in decline, its been a steady trend and the most recent evidence was that last test at the Gabba. However atm they're still in the top 3 sides in cricket. Whether that ranking will go up or down depends on how the players that take over from Hayden, Ponting, Hussey, Lee and co. in a few years time go.

 

[Richard]

What's going to be very interesting is how Hayden and Lee go in the meantime - and thus, how long until their replacement happens.

 

[Richard]

Possible 2007+ side:
P Jaques
C Rogers
R Ponting (c)
M Clarke (vc)
C Ferguson
M North
S Watson
C White*
C Hartley (wk)
B Lee
S Tait
D Cullen

*M Johnson to come in at 9, if the pitch is seamer friendly

Pretty much the top up and coming players plus Ponting and Brett Lee

Katich and Mike Hussey could still be around as well.

Indeed they could.

Seriously though - Callum Ferguson???? And Hartley ahead of Haddin?

 

[GIMH]

I think the bigger issue here is that he expecdted cricket to become 12-a-side in 07

 

[Richard]

Haha, didn't spot that.

Haven't looked to see if anyone else did at the time either.

 

[grapedo]

by "potential" you mean when he can land something near the stumps lets face it he will be the next harmi .bowls a some good spells then bowls crap every other time.Also steyn only got one five for aginst india which four of those were were the tail so no great feet.He also got a four for but also again most were tail enders.South afriac I don't recall them playing aginst sri lanka recently and I think are a much bigger enemy and england well aren't that great.Pakistan has lost alot and had mohemmed out of fourm during that recent series also don't get as much cricket I think they have good players but they haven't enough cricket to get them going.Really pakistan is no way near south africa good.

The last time they played sri lanka they won both series. They have dominated the world so now they will dominate australia.

 

[Flem274*]

So I'm guesing the likely Aussie side post this lot will be something like:

Mark Cosgrove
Phil Jaques
Phil Hughes?
Michael Clarke
Brad Hodge
Shane Watson
Luke Ronchi?
Mitchell Johnson
Jason Krejza?
Doug Bollinger
Ben Hilfenhaus

Anyone I've missed (bet I have)?

Looks potentially very good but...quite beatable.

 

[NZTailender]

So I'm guesing the likely Aussie side post this lot will be something like:

Mark Cosgrove
Phil Jaques
Phil Hughes?
Michael Clarke
Brad Hodge
Shane Watson
Luke Ronchi?
Mitchell Johnson
Jason Krejza?
Doug Bollinger
Ben Hilfenhaus

Anyone I've missed (bet I have)?

Looks potentially very good but...quite beatable.

Hughes and Jaques would most likely open with North at 3, I guess, or David Hussey. Cosgrove's game has seemingly gone to ****.

 

[jondavluc]

So I'm guesing the likely Aussie side post this lot will be something like:

Mark Cosgrove
Phil Jaques
Phil Hughes?
Michael Clarke
Brad Hodge
Shane Watson
Luke Ronchi?
Mitchell Johnson
Jason Krejza?
Doug Bollinger
Ben Hilfenhaus

Anyone I've missed (bet I have)?

Looks potentially very good but...quite beatable.

What is this based on I doubt in four years time brad hodge will be in the test squad because he is around the same age as ricky.Mark's career looks too dead to be revived at this point.Everything else looks pretty good though.

 

[silentstriker]

Whether that ranking will go up or down depends on how the players that take over from Hayden, Ponting, Hussey, Lee and co. in a few years time go.

That's interesting, because first people said about replacing Waugh, Taylor and company, then it became Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath, and now Ponting, Hussey and Lee. I think people are waiting for a downfall that'll never come. They have too good a first class system.


I think two years from now, Australia will still be the best side in the world.

 

[Top_Cat]

That's interesting, because first people said about replacing Waugh, Taylor and company, then it became Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath, and now Ponting, Hussey and Lee. I think people are waiting for a downfall that'll never come. They have too good a first class system.


I think two years from now, Australia will still be the best side in the world.

Yeah it's interesting how that goes. I mean, people go on about how the lack of a decent spinner in the side is a harbinger but, well, before Warnie, the last really decent spinner for Aus was probably Benaud. Winning obviously has been made harder by the top players leaving but there's plenty suggest the FC system in Aus is pretty healthy and will continue to produce some awesome players.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Ferguson has massive talent, Richard. Lacks the mental game but back then people would've thought he would get himself together. Kid is a beautiful batsman to watch.

 

[Richard]

I don't think I was suggesting he was hopeless, was I? Merely that I'd never so much as once seen anyone suggest he was good enough to play for Australia.

 

[Richard]

So I'm guesing the likely Aussie side post this lot will be something like:

Mark Cosgrove
Phil Jaques
Phil Hughes?
Michael Clarke
Brad Hodge
Shane Watson
Luke Ronchi?
Mitchell Johnson
Jason Krejza?
Doug Bollinger
Ben Hilfenhaus

Anyone I've missed (bet I have)?

Looks potentially very good but...quite beatable.

Cosgrove opening? With a specialist opener pushed down to three?

And yeah, as said, Hodge won't last longer than Hussey and Ponting, not a chance. Doubt Ronchi would play when Haddin finishes either, it'll probably be 5 years or so and Ronchi would be, what, 32 by then?

Also don't see Krejza lasting 5 years or close.

 

[NUFAN]

I don't think I was suggesting he was hopeless, was I? Merely that I'd never so much as once seen anyone suggest he was good enough to play for Australia.

You should read the Australian Domestic Thread from time to time.

 

[Richard]

If I follow, I follow properly (and post, obv). If I don't, I don't read so much as once.

 

[Richard]

Here's another one for the merge.

 

[Richard]

Something interesting that's only just occurred to me is that the series in India was the first time when Australia went through a Test series without winning or being obviously denied a win by lost play since 1985/86, when India drew 0-0 (but would probably have won 0-3 but for lost play) and New Zealand won 1-0 (with the two drawn Tests both seeing virtually no play).

Even in the wretched 5 years 1984-1988/89, when Australia so little, they still just twice (the other being West Indies in 1984) went through a series without once winning a Test or threatening to win a truncated Test before a time ran-out.