Australia all set to touch new low in test cricket

[Precambrian]

Australia, should they NOT win the ongoing test match in Blore, stands to fall to a new low of Rank 5 in test cricket... The dubious distinction would not only mean they've touched lows which they have never had to in their 100+ years of playing test cricket, but also cruelly exposes the much hyped "bench" and "domestic" strength, and how, after almost 4 years after the great M and W departed, they really are on a steep slide... This would also mean they go into the Ashes ranked below England and thus start as underdogs, which is a crying shame and something which I don't think has happened in decades, if not ever.. ( Here's to them salvaging a win so that all my talk are rendered obsolete.. because I hate English team more than Aussies... :nervous:

[kabira]

Its not only M and W. But they will soon be without Ponting, North is not long term prospect, I don't rate Katich and Watson. They do okayish job. Hayden and Langer used to aim for big hundreds, These two are okay at best. They may have more problem when Ponting retires.

[Precambrian]

Its not only M and W. But they will soon be without Ponting, North is not long term prospect, I don't rate Katich and Watson. They do okayish job. Hayden and Langer used to aim for big hundreds, These two are okay at best. They may have more problem when Ponting retires.

Ponting has averaged about 40 since W & M retired I think... which is not something they're hugely going to miss, but which has hurt them indeed in the last 4 years..

[Andy]

Bas..Sala Jinx kardiya :wall: Now i cant see them losing this. :finger:

[Bradman99]

We are still number one in one dayers and beat you guys last year in the one dayers with our second string side just about so I wouldn't say our domestic structure is overhyped. Besides, most of the players that have come into the side have done a really good job, it seems its the older, more experienced players who are letting us down. Anyway, in the next couple of years we will get to see how strong Indias domestic structure is!

[EnterTheVoid]

Australia, should they NOT win the ongoing test match in Blore, stands to fall to a new low of Rank 5 in test cricket... The dubious distinction would not only mean they've touched lows which they have never had to in their 100+ years of playing test cricket, but also cruelly exposes the much hyped "bench" and "domestic" strength, and how, after almost 4 years after the great M and W departed, they really are on a steep slide... This would also mean they go into the Ashes ranked below England and thus start as underdogs, which is a crying shame and something which I don't think has happened in decades, if not ever.. :(( Here's to them salvaging a win so that all my talk are rendered obsolete.. because I hate English team more than Aussies... :nervous:

That doesn't mean anything.

[cowboysfan]

Its not only M and W. But they will soon be without Ponting, North is not long term prospect, I don't rate Katich and Watson. They do okayish job. Hayden and Langer used to aim for big hundreds, These two are okay at best. They may have more problem when Ponting retires.

katich and watson are the reason they are no 4 right now,they are holding this team together imo.

[Cricketics]

Rank 4 or 5. In terms of proper rankings, Australia is rite up there with South Africa as no. 2 for me much much better side then england, sri lanka, new zealand and pak.

[gaurav92]

^Agree with you.They are on a rebuilding stage, so it will take time to get their 2nd position back though.But they are 3rd best currently.

[Cricketics]

People don't understand icc rankings system here. They reason why Aus ranking has dropped so much is because they have lost some test matches to teams with very pathetic ranking. And when that happens, a team lose plenty of points. Aus lost 2 test to England and one to pakistan in last 12 months and that has killed their ranking big time. plus some draws here and there. and not to forget their expected series loss in India in 08 and against Saf at their home.

[IT_Anxiety_NJIT]

John Buchanan ...where are you??? http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/319712.html Aus should recruit spinners & some decent batsmen from abroad ...gharoor ka sar neecha :yay:

[ravishingravi]

No. They are still better than Eng. in my book. Man to man they look short against India and SA. However they did defeat SA in SA last time.

[Precambrian]

Wow 4+ years and they are still rebuilding???

[Nova]

Wow 4+ years and they are still rebuilding???

Don't worry out time will come when the fab 4 retire. :((

[someone]

Wow 4+ years and they are still rebuilding???

We all talk Australia arrogance and ego.... and criticize them for that and suddenly when we are playing good and have good ranking, we start the same thing, wonder if it will classify in the same category. The fact is that Australia has and still the one who has always set the benchmark.

[kabira]

We are still number one in one dayers and beat you guys last year in the one dayers with our second string side just about so I wouldn't say our domestic structure is overhyped. Besides' date=' most of the players that have come into the side have done a really good job, it seems its the older, more experienced players who are letting us down. Anyway, in the next couple of years we will get to see how strong Indias domestic structure is![/quote'] you missed the point, we are talking about Tests. They definately have gone down and replacements have been okayish. Even Ponting has average around 40 in that period. When Hussey made debut, team was already champion team. Its easy to get into winning team, you are less insecure, right now they are not as formidable, somehow losing the games that they could have won.

[Gunner_Mania]

As td said we will be in the same boat shortly, when the Fab4 goes, we haven't planned, identified are built up replacements for them. We will also be in the rebuilding stage sooner than most people think.

[Chandan]

We are still number one in one dayers and beat you guys last year in the one dayers with our second string side just about so I wouldn't say our domestic structure is overhyped. Besides' date=' most of the players that have come into the side have done a really good job, it seems its the older, more experienced players who are letting us down. Anyway, in the next couple of years we will get to see how strong Indias domestic structure is![/quote'] Indian domestic structure is really poor and there is a huge gulf between FC cricket and test cricket. I'm not sure if India will even touch the heights that it has now. So enjoy the time right now folks. It won't be lasting forever. Australia on the other hand will regain the hight when their full set of new players settle in and gain experience. It doesn't happen overnight. You need years of test experience for that.

[Bradman99]

you missed the point' date=' we are talking about Tests. They definately have gone down and replacements have been okayish. Even Ponting has average around 40 in that period. When Hussey made debut, team was already champion team. Its easy to get into winning team, you are less insecure, right now they are not as formidable, somehow losing the games that they could have won.[/quote'] Right now we are not as formidable? Obviously mate thats been the case for years now, everybody knows we aren't the same and may never enjoy that much success again because that was a great period for us. However as Chandan said it takes time with regards to tests and I think that once this bunch are given a few more years and Indias fab four retire, the tide will turn again.

[Precambrian]

Right now we are not as formidable? Obviously mate thats been the case for years now' date=' everybody knows we aren't the same and may never enjoy that much success again because that was a great period for us. However as Chandan said it takes time with regards to tests and I think that once this bunch are given a few more years and Indias fab four retire, the tide will turn again.[/quote'] Frankly you aren't... at the moment atleast You've ageing stars in Ponting, and Hussey, the latter is clearly over the hill.. Watson, Katich etc for all their abilities are not world's best, Clarke is a potential candidate but is struggling to make the foray from "good" to "great" (but i think it's a matter of time), and you don't have a decent spinner, fast bowlers are largely raw and Mitchell Johnson is like Merv Hughes of the 90s, I'd take SA anyday over Australia, and SL (in SL) too atm...