*Official* Australia in decline thread

[FRAZ]

Are the other teams catching up to the Aussies or what ?

Just curious .
Is that right that other teams are raising their standards now and its gonna be able to control the win percentage of Australia pretty soon or its gonna take a long long time ?
India definately showed signs of positivity but In my view its not good enough , And Pakistan and South Africa have lost their prime . So some one is gonna be challenging them pretty soon or not ?

 

[age_master]

India showed a few signs playing Australia without Warne or McGrath, but they are back now, i think we should wait until the series in india to see....

 

[Slow Love™]

I thought so a little while ago, but now I'm not as sure (I was surprised by how well the Aussies played in Sri Lanka). If the Indians beat us, obviously things will get interesting... And then there's the Ashes next year.

For the moment though, it's just a case of everybody clambering past South Africa.

 

[Jnr.]

Judging by the manner in which England destroyed the Windies (and whitewashed the Kiwis), I'd say they are catching up quite quickly. They beat a Warne-less and McGrath-less Australian team last time we met and beat us quite comprehensively, even if it was a dead rubber.

 

[maxpower]

I dont think teams have caught up, but Aus has had some ups and downs in bowling dept(mcgrath & lee injuries, warne issue) which i think is the strength of AUS.

 

[FRAZ]

I dont think teams have caught up, but Aus has had some ups and downs in bowling dept(mcgrath & lee injuries, warne issue) which i think is the strength of AUS.

Yup thats what I have in my mind .
England and India have improved but still one or two series are not the answer for what I am trying to say . India is not consistant and England simply is'nt good enough . Pakistan and South Africa seemed as the last two competitors who could answer them . But Pakistan with the Batting blunders and the captaincy craps and South Africa with poor management and Allrounder fanticism are now way way back . Hmmm Even in Prime Australia lost atleast some matches so giving an example of One odd series wont be good enough .
In my view , Australia will be there at the top for a long period of time . They are just too scientific . Thats about it ....

 

[FRAZ]

Just a boring question but correlated with this thread , Cuz question is of the 21st century's way of scientific precision and accuracy to play cricket .
Dont you guys feel that Windies are still stuck in 80's. I mean I dont think that they have lost any thing since their prime but also they have'NT been able to go along with the new cricket ..........

 

[maxpower]

SA is scientific too, but they know how to suck aswell. Good combination of batsmen and bowlers are needed to win matches, Aus has good batsmen but even better bowlers. SA lost Donlad from whom other bowlers use to feed off, PAK bowling has declined since WC 99, IND never has had a dominating bowler and has fitness issues at present, SL only good at home and murali is hated in AUS, ENG has flashes of good bowling, NZ I dont know what they do, WI well i suggested something last time which ppl did not like, Bang why bother, ZIM they still play cricket ?

 

[Will Scarlet]

I think AUS is going backwards - only slightly though - while ENG has improved. Many of Australia's players are getting old now and the Waughs retired.

India did well in AUS but McGrath and Warne were missing and Gillespie was not fully fit. SA has definitely fallen away as their bowling is weak.

 

[Deja moo]

Its really a question of finding excellent players IMO. Australia have a great bunch. As many as 5 players (incluing S Waugh) from Aus would be consiered as greats of the game a few years from now.They have Clarke , who bats much like the young Sachin , effective Allrounders like Harvey an Symonds and Clarke.....

Other teams simply dont have the players ....as simple.
India have excellent batsmen , but bowlers win matches.

England have started showing signs of all roun strength.

Pakistan will improve IMO.

dont know about the eerging talent in NZ.

SA seem to be in Indias shoes.....good batsmen , but not a great bowling attack.

 

[Dar]

England are showing signs but Windies weren't a great opposition so wait till the SA series this winter and then we'll see. India need to win more test series and Sri Lanka need to play away from home. At the moment nobody has that consistency but the other teams are certainly getting closer to Australia

 

[Barney Rubble]

People forget England drew with SA last year when they were going a difficult transitional period with lots of injuries and team changes - people like Kirtley, Ali, Chapple, Bicknell, Ed Smith in and around the squad, all of whom have been replaced with better players - not to mention the fact that Harmison wasn't half the player he is now, and Graeme Smith was in great form. I don't think England got the credit they deserved for last year's drawn series.

I really think England are catching up with Australia, and for the first time ever, as an England fan, I believe that we will go into the Ashes series with a strong chance of winning, having beaten SA this winter and annihilated Bangladesh at home, full of confidence and ready to take on the world's best.

May the best team win!

 

[Sanz]

No team is catching up with Australia. Australia have been there at top for almost 5 years now and with Mcgrath, Warne and other top players retiing in next couple of year may close the gap. Otherwise England team has showed some potential but I dont think they are anywhere close to Australia. India is inconsistent, Pakistan is in rebuildng phase and are very inconsistent. Sri Lanka seems to be in good hands esp with good balance in batting and bowling both but far from challenging australia. NZ do not have enough talent for test cricket to challenge Australia.

 

[nookie_lk]

when it comes to one day cricket i think currently Sri lanka and Pakistan can give a huge challenge to Australia...but in test cricket Aus is faaaaaaaaar ahead of the rest of the world. I feel that Australia will even win the India series.

 

[Swervy]

No team is catching up with Australia. Australia have been there at top for almost 5 years now and with Mcgrath, Warne and other top players retiing in next couple of year may close the gap. Otherwise England team has showed some potential but I dont think they are anywhere close to Australia. India is inconsistent, Pakistan is in rebuildng phase and are very inconsistent. Sri Lanka seems to be in good hands esp with good balance in batting and bowling both but far from challenging australia. NZ do not have enough talent for test cricket to challenge Australia.

so who was number one 5 and a half years ago....i think australia have been top dog for a decade now

 

[Sanz]

I think Australia are way better in ODI, in Test Cricket there are a some countries which can give them a run for their money. For Example Lanka did really well against them in the Test series and Tests were keenly fought, India has been doing well against them in Tests, IMO england will do well against them in Tests. In ODIs only team that looks anywhere close to them is NZ, without Bond, they will also struggle against them.

 

[Swervy]

when it comes to one day cricket i think currently Sri lanka and Pakistan can give a huge challenge to Australia...but in test cricket Aus is faaaaaaaaar ahead of the rest of the world. I feel that Australia will even win the India series.

you you not think that the gap between Australia and the rest is even bigger in ODI's than in tests

 

[Sanz]

so who was number one 5 and a half years ago....i think australia have been top dog for a decade now

There is a country called 'SRI LANKA' which won the world cup in 1996 by beating Australia in the finals.

 

[Swervy]

There is a country called 'SRI LANKA' which won the world cup in 1996 by beating Australia in the finals.

oh yeah..but since when has that really been an indicator of who really is the best...I mean India won in 83, but they werent the best one day side in the world then,Australia won in 87, but they werent the best in the world...and in tests Australia have been the best for a lot longer than 5 and a bit years

 

[Son Of Coco]

you you not think that the gap between Australia and the rest is even bigger in ODI's than in tests

I think that perhaps ODI's are a little more random than the test matches in that more teams are capable of winning on any given day. Australia has been making OD cricket look very predictable over the past year or so though it has to be said.

I think we're still a ways ahead in Tests though.......India have always been able to give us a good run in India (well better than a good run, they beat us all the time) but we've also managed a never before in beating SL 3-0 at home so that one will be interesting. I think England's improved in as much as their ranking in the world is now 2, but as for catching up on Aus - I'm yet to be convinced.