What's with the average Indian?

[Lurker]

You are discussing irrelevant things now. What does winning in hockey have anything to do with what I said about winning in the 80s in test matches which continues to be a factual truth despite all your protestations. My point was very specific to a simple question he raised on surprise about winning in cricket.

Not at all. Read up your post. You start with a 1000 years slavery and follow it up with wins in 90s etc. Of course it is fairly pertinent to note that since you are chastising an entire nation one should teach you a few things you have conviniently forgotten. Winning in hockey was to prove a point that as a nation, since thats what you went after in your comment, we have had lot more successes than today.

The worst part of your post is you launching into a personal tirade based on perceived statements and then bring irrelevant issues into discussion.

You initiate a 1000 yearsl slavery nonsense and you are the one to oppose personal tirade? Jeez dude get a perspective.

If India was as good as you make them to be why did they not win more than 11 tests in the 80s? Are you going to give a new definition for being good which doesn't involve winning?

Rather simple. It was the strength of the teams. West Indies of 80s are a contender of greatest team ever. Their bowling attack - Marshall. Holding, Garner, Roberts - would be contenders of all time greatest West Indies XI. If you plug in Greenidge, Hayness, Lloyd, Richards etc they would have eaten this Indian team alive. Pakistan of 80s was a very good team with very decent opening batsmen, good middle order, one of all time great all-rounders, fantastic keeper, an up and coming left arm great and a great spinner. Again many of their players would make to all time Pakistan XI. New Zealand was probably as good as it is today but it still sported an all-time great all-rounder and very good supporting cast. Australia were a good team although they kept swinging between extremes once Lillee, Chappell and Marsh departed but they regrouped pretty darn fast and by the end of the decade were a formidable team again. England was a fairly decent too, specially at home, and included in Botham, Gower, Gooch many of all-time greats. Sri Lanka I am not counting. Now look around and see the present teams. None of Pakistanis would walk into their all-time greats. West Indies opening with Kemar Roch and led by Sammy? You kidding me? NZ bowling led by James Franklin. You kidding me? Amongst these India were downplayed by West Indies (which they would be even today to be honest), held its own against Pakistan, came close to winning in Australia (and should have won), beat England in England and did not have a bad record against NZ. So really what are you talking about? This coupled with 83 win, 87 semis which we should have won, 85 benson and hedges win, australasia cup etc etc win makes for a very decent decade.

It is pretty sad that you chose personal attacks where you could have a had a comfortable discussion with me Lurker saab.

The question you need to ask me is, is that you or is that me?? xxx