Australian Cricket Exposed
They say every dog has its day. I guess the australian cricket team has been that dog for the past decade and a half. Finally, after a monumental effort from India and South Africa over the past 1 year, the invincible australian cricket team has been reduced to very beatable. I find the whole affair very interesting, in fact I am starting to like it very much. It exposes few extra-ordinary realities about australian cricket:
1) Ricky Ponting is an uninspired captain at best. In fact, if you ask me honestly, he is one of the worst in the world. I have hardly seen him imaginative on a cricket field. In his defense, with Shane and Glen at his disposal all these years, he hardly had to think. But now he has been exposed like a deer on a national highway.
2) The demons in the australian domestic cricket structure are out. I have heard critics all these years praising the incredibly strong australian domestic structure that produces international level talent at will. The pundits have gone on record to say that every country should follow the australian domestic structure and learn from there. Well, the kind of debut players that have played for Australia in the last 6 months, I can tell you that they have given these pundits a real hiding.
3) This is the most important point. Shane Warne. Let me put it this way, he has played the greatest role in australian cricket. All the test series that the australian team has won in the past decade around the world should be credited majorly to Shane Warne. This magnificent spinner has created the monkey out of batsmen everywhere. In the most critical moments of the games, he has stood up and taken that crucial wicket that turned the test matches in favour of Australia. The reason why Australia could not win a lot in India would go down to the fact that the Indian batsmen played Warny very well. Thus reducing the chances of an Australian win considerably.
So to sum up in one line, Ricky Ponting is a below average captain, australian domestic way is not the best way and Shane Warne was incredible and dearly missed. It is generally not nice to see an empire fall, but this one is an exception. I am loving it. It is going to be a close battle between South Africa and India in 2009 to claim the number one slot in all forms of the game.
For the australian ego, it will be a hard pill to swallow. And since this is the ashes year, I know the poms will be chuckling.
I agree, with most of what you say..BUT you cant flig ponting out in one shot..not worst ..atleast..he aint any good i agree as most of the time his team was so good agreed, but he did play a part..maybe sometimes by just opening his mouth..
But Australia is on the decline no doubt..now India south africa series in south africa will be fun.. when is it?
Ponting got a real hiding from black caps yesterday. He is over, at least as a captain. Australian selectors should think seriously about giving the captaincy to pup.
The next bilateral series between India and SA will be:
Feb-March 2010 - SA will tour India (3 Test, 5 ODI’s)
Dec 2010 - India will tour SA (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
But this year they may meet at ICC events like Twenty20 cup and ICC Champions trophy.
Spot on. Ricky Ponting has been rested (read dropped) for the next 2 games against the black caps. Imagine if the stand in skipper pup scores big and ensures that Australia wins, how would ponting get his place back, let alone captaincy. Its very interesting right now.
its not just captaincy..australia have a serious talent cruch these days compared to the other teams..pup better look out otherwise he will be chewed down
but is it going to pup..or someone else?
pup is the vice captain and has done it before in the absence of punter. and i tell you man, this guy is a natural leader and has too much energy on the field. i have seen him martial his troops really well in the past.
man, I have to say this. I was so right with this article back in Jan 09. India and South Africa are indeed the top teams in the world, England has won the ashes, and aussies are hiding.
Joshi - you listening bro?
[...] January 2009 I wrote a piece on cricket predicting the downfall of Australian cricket. Also, I predicted that it will be a close [...]
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