The decline of Aust cricket...get used to it!!!

[Engine]

Australia cricket has been blessed with an extremely long era of dominance. We certaintly do rival the greatness of the West Indies teams of the past.

Even though people have been warning us about a decline in Australian cricket, I honestly didn't believe it. I thought Australia had a great transition plan and we'd be number one for years to come.

After today's performance, Australia has massive problems. I have never seen an Australian team surrender so meekly. Our batsmen looked totally demoralised. They played on the SAME track as the Indians, who played well.

Of deeper concern is our bowling attack. We simply do not have a strike bowler in Australia (pace and spin).

I know that we played what I consider to be the best test match team in the world. It is no insult to lose to India. We will go on to belt the Kiwis because they have nothing left. I think we'll beat South Africa or draw South Africa in a close contest. We won't belt them like in the past.

Of deeper concern is the 2009 Ashes. I think we are more ill-prepared for the next Ashes than 2005. We prob play reverse swing worse now than in the past. England are building nicely, plus they have a pretty good spinner in Panesar.

I think we'll lose Ashes if we keep the same lineup.

 

[Angry_eel]

calm the f**k down. Have some hope. Cricket is unpredictable, India had a good day today, could be the same for Australia tommorow.

 

[Locky24]

I Wouldn't of Believed it to,If Someone was going to tell me Australia wasn't going to be dominate like the used to when Gilly,Warne,McGrath where around.

But it Looks like we are loosing our dominance, Unless we can Get new players,that will step up for Australia in both batting and bowling.

But you can never really tell, Maybe in the Next test will we do the same thing as India is doing

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Im unconvinced about where we are.

What I will admit is we are right with the pack, although may still be the best side, im not sure.

However despite last series in 2005, we have never done well in India, so this is not uncommon to see us really struggling over there. At home I think it will be rare to see this side lose still.

 

[HevyDevy]

The batting line-up performed poorly but that's not our real problem - we have tremendous batting depth.

Of great concern are the bowling stocks and the selectors.

We have NO spin bowlers up to Test quality and the selectors seem intent on ignoring our best quicks in favour of muppets like Johnson.

Even with Siddle trying hard, you can't tell me he deserved to be selected ahead of Bollinger or Bracken, Hilfenhaus or Noffke.

With Lee bowling poorly and Clark out, this has to be one of the worst bowling attacks I have ever seen an Australian side field.

 

[Locky24]

Hilfenhaus and Noffke are Bowling really well for their respective States.

So why Not give them ago for the 3rd Test?

 

[TheParraboy]

Ill hold of on damming our spinning options for now

murali and warne have an over 40 average in india
so you cant expect anyone else to even come near that

After a few tests vs NZ and SA, it will be a better indication of how we are going "without" a spinner

Our pace attack will be ok, provided we get the right mix

A lot will depend on Clark being fit and healthy, AND picking the right mix

 

[8Ball]

1. We always do poorly in India
2. We lack a spinner
3. Hayden returning from a long layoff
4. We are carrying white
5. Clark is injured

I'll reserve my judgment. If we lose against NZ, in the upcoming series, then I'll admit we are in deep trouble.

 

[JJ]

:lol: no way in the world you'll lose to NZ - we are very ordinary atm.

Quite frankly India look a better side atm, but I don't really understand why you insist on playing a nuffy spinner?? Why not just have an all pace attack backed by Clarke, picking White is a very defensive option... RSA have done very well on the subcontinent without a half decent spinner

The RSA tests will be a good indicator - like Aust they are a good all-round side lacking a spinner... should be quite even.

Aust still #1 atm, but very close now with India and RSA

 

[Aaron_sfas]

sub continent is tough for everyone, so you have to expect our young guys to struggle

and i think our major issue in this test is lack of a top spinner. dont get me wrong, i think cam is doing a solid job. but on a pitch like this you someone who is above that level.

keep in mind also that lee has injured his bowling hand early in the test and we're missing our other strike bowler clark.

there is no excuse for the batting collapse other then a combination of bad luck and poor shot selection.

but before you write off australians era of dominance, remember what happened after being pasted in the 05 ashes. aussies dont like to lose, and i dont think we'll make a habbit of it any time soon.

besides, we got the better of the first test only a week ago. same side people. its would be dumb to give up on them now

 

[Aaron_sfas]

The batting line-up performed poorly but that's not our real problem - we have tremendous batting depth.

Of great concern are the bowling stocks and the selectors.

We have NO spin bowlers up to Test quality and the selectors seem intent on ignoring our best quicks in favour of muppets like Johnson.

Even with Siddle trying hard, you can't tell me he deserved to be selected ahead of Bollinger or Bracken, Hilfenhaus or Noffke.

With Lee bowling poorly and Clark out, this has to be one of the worst bowling attacks I have ever seen an Australian side field.

johnson=leading wicket taker.

give him a break people

 

[JJ]

Nobody should give up on them...

But it's pretty naive to think that over a few years a team could lose Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Langer, & MacGill and not have the gap closed on them substantially

 

[Twizzle]

oh dear

we had a bad few days and now we are on the decline

an extra session or two and we would have wont the first test match

over reaction much ?

 

[aussies1st]

Our pace bowling options are fine, Magoffin has been ripping up the FC scene for the past few seasons. Bracken has always been there abouts, Noffke gets a 5 fer every match, Hilfy is starting to get back to his best. Probably others that I have missed as well. We got some good young pacemen coming through, one guy that is being compared to McGrath who last I checked stood at 6'5 at 17 years old.

It is the spin department which we expected to be the problem. Casson had a good season along with McGain. After them it was all downhill but this season Cullen took a few wickets, Holland continues to return tidy figures.

Batting we are in good shape with Pomersbach shown he can play against International teams like he did during the tour matches. Marsh has certainly lifted over the past season, Bailey is starting to become more consistent. Hughes although having a crap season this year went well last season.

So we certainly won't be lost for talent, will they stand up in the Test arena we will soon find out.

 

[JJ]

oh dear

we had a bad few days and now we are on the decline

an extra session or two and we would have wont the first test match

over reaction much ?

Those of us that are more objective have noted you're coming back to the pack for a while now.

Tests are five days, so there's no point on speculating onthe effects of a timeless test.

As I said above, a team cannot lose players of that calibre and not decline - it's not a NZ like decline, and clearly you're still #1 - but certainly India and RSA are knocking loudly at your door

 

[Twizzle]

Our pace bowling options are fine, Magoffin has been ripping up the FC scene for the past few seasons. Bracken has always been there abouts, Noffke gets a 5 fer every match, Hilfy is starting to get back to his best. Probably others that I have missed as well. We got some good young pacemen coming through, one guy that is being compared to McGrath who last I checked stood at 6'5 at 17 years old.

It is the spin department which we expected to be the problem. Casson had a good season along with McGain. After them it was all downhill but this season Cullen took a few wickets, Holland continues to return tidy figures.

Batting we are in good shape with Pomersbach shown he can play against International teams like he did during the tour matches. Marsh has certainly lifted over the past season, Bailey is starting to become more consistent. Hughes although having a crap season this year went well last season.

So we certainly won't be lost for talent, will they stand up in the Test arena we will soon find out.

yep, we have depth in batting and medium pacers

we got jack sh*t in the spin department but same could be said for RSA and they are up there as well

the biggest problem I have is with our selectors, we could do so much better with the players that we dont pick

 

[HevyDevy]

johnson=leading wicket taker.

give him a break people

Have you seen how he has picked up his wickets?

 

[Jobdog]

In light of the much-publicised Brett Lee-Ricky Ponting spat last night, my question is - Is Australian cricket really in that bad of a shape?

Ok, let's think about this in a rational manner - something unknown to Mr Lee and Mr Ponting ...

We're getting pounded by India in the second test, but in reality, if somehow we manage to hang on for a draw, as far ahead of us India have been - in a different stratosphere - it will still be 0-0. Chances are we'll lose and we'll only be down 1-0 with two tests to play.

I was never under any illusions as to how tough this series against the Indians was going to be - it's our first real test in the post McGrath-Warne era and maybe we're being shown up for how small the talent pool, especially when it comes to the spin department in Australian cricket is at the moment.

But let's not jump the gun here. It's a transition phase - something every sporting side will have to encounter at some stage. It's happened with Newcastle and Canberra in the NRL, it seems to be happening with the Aussie team in the cricket at the moment, but I assure you that we will still win more than our fair share of games.

We just need to settle down a bit.

 

[JJ]

In light of the much-publicised Brett Lee-Ricky Ponting spat last night, my question is - Is Australian cricket really in that bad of a shape?

Ok, let's think about this in a rational manner - something unknown to Mr Lee and Mr Ponting ...

We're getting pounded by India in the second test, but in reality, if somehow we manage to hang on for a draw, as far ahead of us India have been - in a different stratosphere - it will still be 0-0. Chances are we'll lose and we'll only be down 1-0 with two tests to play.

I was never under any illusions as to how tough this series against the Indians was going to be - it's our first real test in the post McGrath-Warne era and maybe we're being shown up for how small the talent pool, especially when it comes to the spin department in Australian cricket is at the moment.

But let's not jump the gun here. It's a transition phase - something every sporting side will have to encounter at some stage. It's happened with Newcastle and Canberra in the NRL, it seems to be happening with the Aussie team in the cricket at the moment, but I assure you that we will still win more than our fair share of games.

We just need to settle down a bit.

Good post...

India will go through a rebuilding phase soon too, with their vaunted middle order reaching that age...

Australian systems will give them a big advantage over many other nations, but inreality you have had only a couple of quicks of McGrath's calibre (Lillee, Davidson, Lindwall...) and a couple of spinners of Warne's or even MacGill's (Grimmett, O'Reilly), and no keeper/batsman of Gilchrist's... so no way can you expect to plough on destroying everyon in the same fashion

 

[Timmah]

Good post...

India will go through a rebuilding phase soon too, with their vaunted middle order reaching that age...

Australian systems will give them a big advantage over many other nations, but inreality you have had only a couple of quicks of McGrath's calibre (Lillee, Davidson, Lindwall...) and a couple of spinners of Warne's or even MacGill's (Grimmett, O'Reilly), and no keeper/batsman of Gilchrist's... so no way can you expect to plough on destroying everyon in the same fashion

Whilstever Bhaji and Ishant Sharma are in the bowling attack, India will be a force.