Is Anyone Else Happy

[Timbo]

To quote Paul Keating 'this is the recession we had to have'.

Am I happy now?

No.

Will I be happy If our incompetent selectors and administrators learn from this?

Yes.

If this defeat sees the likes of Ferguson, Khawaja, O'Keefe, Copeland, Faulkner, Cameron, Butterworth, etc. get an extended run as the foundation of the future Australian test side, then I'll at least be glad for that.

If, however, on the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh we see the same old nuffies...

Well, I may be lost to cricket as a fan for a while.

 

[ANTiLAG]

The Silver Bullet is found...

New Australian Cricket Fan Selection Policy...

 

[Twizzle]

The Silver Bullet is found...

New Australian Cricket Fan Selection Policy...

new ?

mate we've been using that for 15 years

 

[ANTiLAG]

But it only used to hang over the heads of fringe players.

Now, according to the fans on LU, there is no core to the team. Everyones' heads are on the chopping block.

The saddest thing is the way Aus fans compare themselves to the Windies. Yes - you went on longer winning streaks under Waugh - but the Windies progressed from Lloyd to Richards, their dominance was not reliant on 2 bowlers alone. They had Marshall, Garner, Patterson, Bishop, Ambrose, Walsh, Holding, Roberts, Croft....

The Windies domination lasted retirements of so many integrals. The first dramatic and obvious blow was Viv's retirement - but until then, they were seamless.

Aus have seemingly fallen apart with the loss of Warne and McGrath. Clearly Ponting is no Viv.

 

[HevyDevy]

But it only used to hang over the heads of fringe players.

Now, according to the fans on LU, there is no core to the team. Everyones' heads are on the chopping block.

The saddest thing is the way Aus fans compare themselves to the Windies. Yes - you went on longer winning streaks under Waugh - but the Windies progressed from Lloyd to Richards, their dominance was not reliant on 2 bowlers alone. They had Marshall, Garner, Patterson, Bishop, Ambrose, Walsh, Holding, Roberts, Croft....

The Windies domination lasted retirements of so many integrals. The first dramatic and obvious blow was Viv's retirement - but until then, they were seamless.

Aus have seemingly fallen apart with the loss of Warne and McGrath. Clearly Ponting is no Viv.

Lee, Gillespie, Gilly, hayden, langer, Waugh - but you're right, our great era was only due to two players ... :sarcasm:

 

[ANTiLAG]

Lee, Gillespie, Gilly, hayden, langer, Waugh - but you're right, our great era was only due to two players ... :sarcasm:

I don't remember Gilly, Hayden, Langer or Waugh sending fears to other team's batsmen at night.

Out of interest - what did Gilly bowl? LFM?

 

[HevyDevy]

I don't remember Gilly, Hayden, Langer or Waugh sending fears to other team's batsmen at night.

Out of interest - what did Gilly bowl? LFM?

Don't recall Lloyd or Richards doing so either. So what's your point?

 

[lockyno1]

Strauss is not a "star"

Great teams don't need many stars anyway

Great teams have stars- think South Africa at the moment, think Australia a few years back, etc. These are great sides. This English side is a fraction better than average, it is just that Australia is VERY POOR. Does not mean this English side is great though!

 

[ANTiLAG]

Don't recall Lloyd or Richards doing so either. So what's your point?

They were captains who got great results out of their bowlers.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Great teams have stars- think South Africa at the moment, think Australia a few years back, etc. These are great sides. This English side is a fraction better than average, it is just that Australia is VERY POOR. Does not mean this English side is great though!

How is this present SA side great?

They're very good. But not even a Yappie would call their present side great. They have the potential to become great...

 

[ANTiLAG]

Great teams have stars- think South Africa at the moment, think Australia a few years back, etc. These are great sides. This English side is a fraction better than average, it is just that Australia is VERY POOR. Does not mean this English side is great though!

England have their most stable opening combo for a long time. Cook in the mid 40's with .25 century sr isw an exciting young prospect. Trott averages over 60. Pieterson 50.

Previously Bell was the weak link - but Collingwood is out of form. Prior is a brilliant keeper bat - averaging over 40 and quite competent (besides today) behind the stumps.

Swann is the best English spinner in decades. DECADES.

But the real strength of this English side - the endless seamers - Jimmy Anderson leads the attack - but Finn, Broad, Bresnan, Tremlett, Onions... jump in and support. I cannot recall that depth in English seam stocks.

So you may be right to say this English side is only a touch over average. But they're getting better. And better.

Remember, this is Australian soil they're wiping their bums with this time.

 

[lockyno1]

How is this present SA side great?

They're very good. But not even a Yappie would call their present side great. They have the potential to become great...

Smith, De Villers, Kallis, Steyn are all elite stars. That is 4 out of 11 players that are defiantely elite, then they have Amla and Morkel just under that bracket. This side is a great side at the moment, probably the best South African side.

 

[hineyrulz]

Smith, De Villers, Kallis, Steyn are all elite stars. That is 4 out of 11 players that are defiantely elite, then they have Amla and Morkel just under that bracket. This side is a great side at the moment, probably the best South African side.

This current South African side would have been murdered by the great team they had in 1970.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Smith, De Villers, Kallis, Steyn are all elite stars. That is 4 out of 11 players that are defiantely elite, then they have Amla and Morkel just under that bracket. This side is a great side at the moment, probably the best South African side.

Morkel is a mile or three from any "elite" bracket. Tsotobe is average. And Harris is no Murali. He's not even near Shakib.

Also, AB has had a great year - but most would have Amla ahead of him in the pecking order overall for now despite playing fewer tests. Neither are elite just yet - but I would not be surprised if Amla does become 'elite' in the comming decade.

Peterson has shown stuff all, and Prince is solid at best.

So they are far from being great. Potential is there for sure. If AB and Amla continue their recent form. Morkel improves. They find a 3rd seamer, a spinner, a replacement for Boucher (age) who can preferably bat longer, and sort out their opening partner to Smith....

But for now....

Potentially great. But not great.

 

[TheParraboy]

But it only used to hang over the heads of fringe players.

Now, according to the fans on LU, there is no core to the team. Everyones' heads are on the chopping block.

The saddest thing is the way Aus fans compare themselves to the Windies. Yes - you went on longer winning streaks under Waugh - but the Windies progressed from Lloyd to Richards, their dominance was not reliant on 2 bowlers alone. They had Marshall, Garner, Patterson, Bishop, Ambrose, Walsh, Holding, Roberts, Croft....

The Windies domination lasted retirements of so many integrals. The first dramatic and obvious blow was Viv's retirement - but until then, they were seamless.

Aus have seemingly fallen apart with the loss of Warne and McGrath. Clearly Ponting is no Viv.

Im confused, why you going off on a irrelevant tangent yet again?

So you saying Australia have no right being put alongside WI as one of the two greatest sides of the last 30 years? (in terms of longevity and consistancy)

Who would be your 2nd side?

 

[hineyrulz]

Im confused, why you going off on a irrelevant tangent yet again?

So you saying Australia have no right being put alongside WI as one of the two greatest sides of the last 30 years? (in terms of longevity and consistancy)

Who would be your 2nd side?

Zimbots captain by Flower........

 

[ANTiLAG]

Im confused, why you going off on a irrelevant tangent yet again?

So you saying Australia have no right being put alongside WI as one of the two greatest sides of the last 30 years? (in terms of longevity and consistancy)

Who would be your 2nd side?

S Waugh's Australia would be the second side. But thats my point. Its a clear second in terms of longevity. To even compare Australian domination to the Windies domination is insulting to the caribbean. Its worse than calling Headley - "the black Bradman". There was only one Don. And why only 30 years? The Windies domination started well before 1980

 

[TheParraboy]

S Waugh's Australia would be the second side. But thats my point. Its a clear second in terms of longevity. To even compare Australian domination to the Windies domination is insulting to the caribbean. Its worse than calling Headley - "the black Bradman". There was only one Don. And why only 30 years? The Windies domination started well before 1980

Thank you, so they are in the top 2 of the last 30 years

 

[hineyrulz]

S Waugh's Australia would be the second side. But thats my point. Its a clear second in terms of longevity. To even compare Australian domination to the Windies domination is insulting to the caribbean. Its worse than calling Headley - "the black Bradman". There was only one Don. And why only 30 years? The Windies domination started well before 1980

Well Australia pumped them 5 -1 in 75/6, so it wasn't much before 80.

 

[TheParraboy]

Zimbots captain by Flower........

:lol::lol:

You know something, Locky has it all over this bloke a lot of the time

Plus Locky is an Eels Boy now