aussie
Hall of Fame Member
This is madness. I really now have to question how much live cricket you have seen from AUS, especially that series.excuses... excuses.... it is still mcgrath/warne/gillespie/kasper right? it is not zaheer, agarkar, kumble and nehra FFS !!
being in or out of form is part and parcel of the game. if one were to rate a bowling unit only when all four bowlers are in prime form, then you wont have too many bowling attacks that would be called great.
It was quite evident in the 2005 Ashes AUS attack was basically a one man attack after the 1st test.
It was clear as day that Gillespie had declined considerably from the 90 mph bowler to a bowler bowling 80pmh with no zip. He wasn't even the same bowler that had destroyed IND 6 months earlier in 2004.
It was clear Kasprowicz had declined from the bowler who was in the form of his life in 2004.
It was clear Lee although he bowled excellently on ocassions. Was basically not a consistent test bowler & was probably just as frustrating as Nehra & Agarkar.
It was clear that young Tait was not test quality when he played.
All those factors made that bowling attack weak. Thus descediting your argument that AUS had its typical STRONG attack in that series. That is not my opinion that is a fact, so i dont what you where watching - if you did watch any part of the 2005 Ashes.
I dont need anyone to protect my argument. Any other person who knows AUS cricket will know clearly to equate AUS losing in IND 98 & 01, blaming the 4th test 04 lost - along with the last two Ashes series defeats with Ponting's batting, knows that is not cricket sense.anyway, it is ok if you dont think ponting has failed his team. just dont blame everyone else to protect him (and your argument)
If you think so sir, unfortunately you will find that you will be in small minority