The Ashes? Forget it - this side would be lucky to beat Bangladesh

[Ram]

Their team gave them a decade and a half of unprecedented dominance. Now, when they're faltering like any other team that goes through a rebuilding phase, look at the 'critics' come out of their closets.

[putrevus]

Are they not building since 2007 how long will the rebuilding phase last, Didn't Aussies gloat on having greatest cricketing structure and domestic set up, well where are next generation Cricketers then. if Usman and Callum Ferguson are next generation batting stars then the drop off is very steep from previous great generation.Where guys like Staurt law and Lehmann who averaged over 50 in their first class careers could not find places in playing XI.

[Bradman99]

Are they not building since 2007 how long will the rebuilding phase last, Didn't Aussies gloat on having greatest cricketing structure and domestic set up, well where are next generation Cricketers then. if Usman and Callum Ferguson are next generation batting stars then the drop off is very steep from previous great generation.Where guys like Staurt law and Lehmann who averaged over 50 in their first class careers could not find places in playing XI.

To be fair, the next generation of players haven't really been given a shot yet.

[Desi Cartman]

He retired from test matches unfortunately. It's a big shame... However, I see no reason why they are also ignoring him for ODI's. He averages 109 this year in one dayers and has scored something like 8 centuries in his last 17 one dayers for Victoria.

ya he is playing in NZ's Toontee Tonntee tournamet at the moment. I saw him on TV wearing pink jersey

[putrevus]

To be fair' date=' the next generation of players haven't really been given a shot yet.[/quote'] I know they have not been given a shot but just looking at their FC stats previous decade players had lot better stats than these new guys. Guys I mentioned would be shoo in this team if they had played in this era but then you had one of the greatest teams. Why are Aussies so scared to blood youngsters they can be any worse than guys like Marcus North .

[Desi Cartman]

I know they have not been given a shot but just looking at their FC stats previous decade players had lot better stats than these new guys. Guys I mentioned would be shoo in this team if they had played in this era but then you had one of the greatest teams. Why are Aussies so scared to blood youngsters they can be any worse than guys like Marcus North .

North is not only in the side as a batsman but they are considering him as the next leader since Pup is not doing well on the field and there are reports that he doesnt get along too well with a lot of current players.

[Fontaine]

I'm really disapointed with Ponting's batting. Whatever about his captaincy, he'll get criticized but he doesn't have the bowling right now. I think this was a genuine chance for him to silence his critics, especially on a placid pitch where as one of the best batsmen he could have stamped his authority and he wasn't up to the mark.

[putrevus]

Ponting is finding out how big and broad shoulders Tendulkar really had when he had to carry whole Indian batting for a decade. He is one great batsmen in that Aussie lineup and earlier it was easy for him to churn out those runs knowing fully well in case he failed there were others to pick him up.Now fear of failure is greater and it is affecting his batting, he knows if he fails rest of batting is just not good enough.

[99.94]

Cricket's a funny game isn't it..

[vvvslaxman]

England has lost in all departments in this test.

[vroomfondel]

It's the development of our bowlers which I is more bothersome. Zaheer has maybe 2 years at his best left and even so there will be periods of injuries. Harbhajan has not been able to cover up sufficiently for Kumble and we have been hacking our way through 20 wickets from here and there on occasions. Sreesanth and Ishant really need to develop into world class bowling options over the next 2-3 years. They have a good enough experience, grounding, and a winning team culture to build upon, but fast bowling in India is a tough job and the next 2-3 years will determine their strength and whether they can be counted on to take 20 wickets for the side 5 years down the line.

Ashwin is a man for the future. He has the talent and the attitude to lead the Indian spin attack 5 years down the road. Initial impressions suggest that he has that 'something special' to distinguish him from the wheel-of-mediocrity types. But let's face it, he will never replace Bhajji as the primary spinner as long as Bhajji averages anywhere near 30. Looking at Australia play 4 quicks (and I think they should continue to do so at the MCG), it makes me wonder if our standard policy should be to play 2 quality spinners , ie. not Ojha and not another waste-of-space medium pacer. Instead of shoe-horning our misfit bowlers into the international standard of 3 seam + 1 spin, we should play the best four bowler on the given day. To my naive mind, I don't think good spinners need out-and-out turners to be effective, as Swannie (and to an extent Harbhajan) has shown. As for pace, I think Zaheer has a big role to play in the future five years. He will not only be our premier paceman, but also a mentor for Ishant and Sreesanth. We have seen him stand at mid-off and marshall our pace attack in the recent past, both at home and away. Zak has been on the domestic scene, been shafted by selectors, rediscovered his mojo in county cricket -- he's done it all, and he can pass on knowledge and inspiration more effectively than any any Akram, Cooley or Reid ever could. Also, I have great hope for Munaf still. I think Sree and Munaf will benefit greatly from a county season or two. Unfortunately, IPL has probably put paid to any chances of them being signed as internationals for county sides, unless the ECB and IPL come to some sort of scheduling agreement. Sree, Munaf, Ishant, Ashwin, Bhajji, Zak -- those are my picks for the next five years.

[rahulrulezz]

Cricket's a funny game isn't it..

OP OWND!!:hysterical:

[gult]

This Aussie clown journalist had taken knives out too early, now he looks foolish :haha: