End of Aussie Era

[Nirvanam]

When this test finishes' date=' Australia would have gone without a test match win for 5 matches. The last time they endured a bigger stretch was way back in the mid 80s, when they went without a win for 14 straight matches with the tied test in between.[/quote']5 is not so big a number if we compare it to the ultra defensive Ind-Pak 0-0 5/6 Test series of the 80s which was followed by a 0-3 walloping by Windies :winky:

[Chalks]

Probably more pertinent is their record since the infamous Sydney 08 test. (results in W-L-D format) v Ind (h) (last two tests of that series): 0-1-1 v WI (a) 2-0-1 v Ind (a) 0-2-2 v NZ (h) 2-0-0 v RSA (h) 1-2-0 v RSA (a) 2-1-0 v Eng (a) 1-2-2 v WI (h) 2-0-1 v Pak (h) 3-0-0 v NZ (a) 2-0-0 v Pak (in Eng) 1-1-0 v Ind (a) 0-2-0 v Eng (h)* 0-1-1 * current series 16 wins, 12 losses, 8 draws. Take out WI, Pak and NZ, and that record becomes: 4 wins, 11 losses, 6 draws. OUCH!

[punjabi_khota]

Well the WI were selecting batsmen that could only average high 20's in domestic cricket' date= I doubt we will get that desperate. England are due to have some fine players, and good on them. We had some all time great players, and were privileged to have them, but no team is always going to have 6 or 7 all time great players in every era, no matter how good your system is. Sometimes the opposition plays better, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor both couldnt beat India in India.

You are selecting spinners that average 50 in domestinc :cantstop:

[vamos_rafa]

I am surprised by the meekness shown by the Aussies. I can't believe that I am writing this about the Aussies. But today the way they were bundled out was disappointing for sure. They need some serious re building to do. Their batting sucks real time. Specially Michael Clarke. I know he scored an 80 but I think he's more interested in walking in his underwear along with Bingle on a ramp. This guy needs to step up big time considering he's their heir apparent. Ponting well he needs to decide his future. Watson did well in India but throws it away on most occasions. Simon Katich is a limited player. Marcus North, wellevery morning someone should tell him that he's going to be dropped coz thats the only time when he scores. Their bowling is something which is not even worth discussing.

[Bradman99]

I am surprised by the meekness shown by the Aussies. I can't believe that I am writing this about the Aussies. But today the way they were bundled out was disappointing for sure. They need some serious re building to do. Their batting sucks real time. Specially Michael Clarke. I know he scored an 80 but I think he's more interested in walking in his underwear along with Bingle on a ramp. This guy needs to step up big time considering he's their heir apparent. Ponting well he needs to decide his future. Watson did well in India but throws it away on most occasions. Simon Katich is a limited player. Marcus North, wellevery morning someone should tell him that he's going to be dropped coz thats the only time when he scores. Their bowling is something which is not even worth discussing.

Clarke? No way, he is our best batsman. Watson needs to go on with it more if he wants to keep being an opener but at least he gets us off to good starts. Katich is what I would call a reliable opening batsman (not the best) but very good. Ponting is playing terribly but how do you drop him? North is the one glaring batsman the side who needs to be dropped. Along with that, Ponting needs to find form for the sake of the team and real quick.

[vamos_rafa]

Clarke? No way' date=' he is our best batsman. Watson needs to go on with it more if he wants to keep being an opener but at least he gets us off to good starts. Katich is what I would call a reliable opening batsman (not the best) but very good. Ponting is playing terribly but how do you drop him? North is the one glaring batsman the side who needs to be dropped. Along with that, Ponting needs to find form for the sake of the team and real quick.[/quote'] Clarke.. I don't know. He just does not go on to make big scores. The way he played in India was pathetic. He is your best batsman against the spinners. But there's some kind of grit missing in him. I don't know I might be over critical of him but as an outsider I don't see that level of application from someone who's your next skipper. And Ponting needs to step up big time.

[Sachin=GOD]

Clarke.. I don't know. He just does not go on to make big scores. The way he played in India was pathetic. He is your best batsman against the spinners. But there's some kind of grit missing in him. I don't know I might be over critical of him but as an outsider I don't see that level of application from someone who's your next skipper. And Ponting needs to step up big time.

When Clarke made his debut he showed lots and lots of promise but he's never really lived up to that potential. I would'nt like to see him as the next skipper because whenever he has captained the team, he has'nt looked totally in control and he does'nt look like a guy who can inspire a team. Ponting definitely has to go as skipper after this Ashes but for Aus there does'nt seem to be many options with regards to captaincy at the moment.

[Bradman99]

Katich seems to me to be the best choice, but the problem is he is old and going forward we would have to change again. I don't really like the sounds of Clarke as being the next captain but there really aren't many options, unless White were to force his way into the test side.

[Sachin=GOD]

Another thing is that in Aus the captaincy is usually a long term decision and once they select a captain he stays for 6-7 years but I really don't see anyone in this current lineup to be a long term replacement to Ponting.

[CoverDrive]

Aussie batting is not too bad. Bowling both spin and pace has been ineffectual. what is surprising is the lack of fight shown by them. Clark getting out at the wrong time cost them this match but what is the first thing he does after getting out - apologizes on twitter for not walking. How lame is that especially coming from an aussie - Imagine Steve Waugh doing this

[vvvslaxman]

One thing that people overlook is Watson's performance. Yes he scores consistently. But how much? He has scored 2 centuries and 13 fifties in 24 tests. That is a terrible conversion. Haydos, Langer used to make 150 plus easily. You don't get that from Watson. He scores around 60 odd and gets out. They need big contributions from him not small contributions.

[Bradman99]

One thing that people overlook is Watson's performance. Yes he scores consistently. But how much? He has scored 2 centuries and 13 fifties in 24 tests. That is a terrible conversion. Haydos' date=' Langer used to make 150 plus easily. You don't get that from Watson. He scores around 60 odd and gets out. They need big contributions from him not small contributions.[/quote'] Solid point you make there but he seems to get a 50 just about every match. It's strange he can't convert more often, I'd like to think it's only a matter of time. But, if it carries on we may have to consider moving him down the order. He has until the rest of the Ashes to show he has what it takes as an opener, we all know he has what it takes to be in the side.

[Sachinism]

50 from Watson is better than nothing from someone else. Now if you could get another batsman to do the same, you're gonna have quite a few 100 partnerships up top, setting a pretty good platform for the others. I know its not ideal to have a batsman get a start and get out, but you can't be so picky when the cupboard is kinda bare

[Bradman99]

50 from Watson is better than nothing from someone else. Now if you could get another batsman to do the same, you're gonna have quite a few 100 partnerships up top, setting a pretty good platform for the others. I know its not ideal to have a batsman get a start and get out, but you can't be so picky when the cupboard is kinda bare

Very true mate, very true. Watson certainly isn't the problem within the side, he gets us off to good starts consistently and more often then not the rest are ruining it. But there is always room for improvement.

[Hindustani]

The current team is just a mere shadow of the aussie team which ruled the world for 6 years and IMO was the best test team ever,

[vamos_rafa]

Very true mate' date=' very true. Watson certainly isn't the problem within the side, he gets us off to good starts consistently and more often then not the rest are ruining it. But there is always room for improvement.[/quote'] Watson is doing just right. The problem area IMO is with Ponting. He's your main batsman, the pivot around which your batting has revolved for years. More importantly his innings have always had a great impact on the outcome of the match. I think that is what is missing. An impactful performance. Something that can lift the morale of the side. It's the same scenario we were in in 2001, when Australia toured India in that famous series. We were down in the doldrums, and though harbhajan did take a hat-trick but it was VVS' magical performance that lifted the side up. I am not saying that an innings like that needs to be repeated but someone needs to step up and inspire your team like VVS did then.

[Moncy]

Bump (With a very good reason) I can't see Aussies winning the big knock-out match against India tomorrow :(( Australia's first real defeat tomorrow will mark the end of Aussie era for real.

[Ashraful_Rox]

RIP australia you gave us lot of great cricket, sadly for australian fans it came to an end at India's hand, happily for us we will get to see a new champagne

[suraj]

RIP australia you gave us lot of great cricket' date=' sadly for australian fans it came to an end at India's hand, happily for us we will get to see a new champagne[/quote'] Not real- this is a jinx attempt Aussies are not going to lose 2 WC matches in a row- India should really have avoided Aus in QF

[Bradman99]

Bump (With a very good reason) I can't see Aussies winning the big knock-out match against India tomorrow :(( Australia's first real defeat tomorrow will mark the end of Aussie era for real.

Mate, you don't sound like a proper Aus fan.. what's with all the negative attitude? Get behind the team, we are well and truly capable of winning the match.