Stating the obvious, but aren't our glory days a distant memory now?

I'd say we're going to be just a competitive 3rd-5th ranked team over the next 5 years. We don't have a single world class bowler for a start and Ponting is our only bonafide superstar. Blokes like Hussey played well in a winning team, but don't seem to have the go to perform from behind the 8 ball.

If you look at our team it's a good one, just not a great one. Players like Marsh, Hopes and D. Hussey are good honest cricketers, just not the calibre of the players we've had over the last decade.

Warner is obviously talented, but needs at least another 2 years of development before we start to see some consistency.

Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus are all solid, but nothing more.

We're truly back in the pack IMO. I'll still be watching.

Cricket a touch boring imo. Sorry I know that doesn't help. But I can't sit and watch those ****ing test matches. 20 20 is the go.

Stating the obvious, but aren't our glory days a distant memory now?

I'd say we're going to be just a competitive 3rd-5th ranked team over the next 5 years. We don't have a single world class bowler for a start and Ponting is our only bonafide superstar. Blokes like Hussey played well in a winning team, but don't seem to have the go to perform from behind the 8 ball.

If you look at our team it's a good one, just not a great one. Players like Marsh, Hopes and D. Hussey are good honest cricketers, just not the calibre of the players we've had over the last decade.

Warner is obviously talented, but needs at least another 2 years of development before we start to see some consistency.

Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus are all solid, but nothing more.

We're truly back in the pack IMO. I'll still be watching.

Our team going through a rebuilding stage is the best thing that can happen to the game worldwide and in our own country. I got to confess I stopped watching cricket because it actually got boring knowing the team was going to win almost every match. I really loved watching Warney bowl and since he retired I don't get into it as much. The best thing the selectors can do now is pick youth and let them develop. Besides it's more fun watching a game knowing you are the underdog and the team have to produce something special to win.
The South Africans, India & England will now battle it out for supremacy but I see the Proteas having top billing for the next 3 or 4 years at least.

Our team going through a rebuilding stage is the best thing that can happen to the game worldwide and in our own country. I got to confess I stopped watching cricket because it actually got boring knowing the team was going to win almost every match. I really loved watching Warney bowl and since he retired I don't get into it as much. The best thing the selectors can do now is pick youth and let them develop. Besides it's more fun watching a game knowing you are the underdog and the team have to produce something special to win.
The South Africans, India & England will now battle it out for supremacy but I see the Proteas having top billing for the next 3 or 4 years at least.

My thoughts exactly on the top sides. I'd say we'll compete with all of them. Nothing wrong with that. I miss Warney, glad that I'll be able to say I saw him at his peak. By far the best cricketer I've ever seen.

SA look to have a strong team with a lot of youth. Boucher, McKenzie, Gibbs and Ntini don't have too long to go and if they're replaced with quality cricketers SA could have a reign not dissimilar to our own.

England has a good young side too, but IMO players like Bell, Strauss and even Flintoff are the kind of players who look a million bucks when momentum is on their side and struggle when it's not.

India will soon be in a position like our own. Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid, Ganguly and Sehwag are all at the back end of their careers. Dhoni seems to be the heir to the throne, but I'm not completely sold on him. The interesting thing is with their batting on the way out their bowling stocks have come along tremendously in the last few years. Interesting matchups.. Next world cup should be a beauty.

I like the fact the they get the crowds there to appreciateit. The Melbourne Cricket Ground does look a bit silly when it's only 1/4 full tho.

I kind of gave up hope last night when Australia were 3 for 35. Clarke out for a duck. Then Warner got out stupidly. But Australia put up a good fight only losing by 39 runs. Anderew Symonds really needs to get back into the Australian team.

Hopefully in the next couple of years we find some good young batters to replace Hayden and Gilchrist.

I kind of gave up hope last night when Australia were 3 for 35. Clarke out for a duck. Then Warner got out stupidly. But Australia put up a good fight only losing by 39 runs. Anderew Symonds really needs to get back into the Australian team.

Hopefully in the next couple of years we find some good young batters to replace Hayden and Gilchrist.

See there is one problem right there. People are getting a game on reputation without making any runs or taking any wickets. Symonds hasn't even made runs in state cricket for a long time now. Yet we fail to reward the young guys who are making plenty of runs and are in good form. It's a recipe for disaster.

See there is one problem right there. People are getting a game on reputation without making any runs or taking any wickets. Symonds hasn't even made runs in state cricket for a long time now. Yet we fail to reward the young guys who are making plenty of runs and are in good form. It's a recipe for disaster.

Haha true.. but i still would have liked to see him striding to the wicket last night rather than either of the Husseys or James 'mediocore' Hopes.

well at least we don't have to put up with 1 sided domination every single match played

cricket is shit i cant watch it

See there is one problem right there. People are getting a game on reputation without making any runs or taking any wickets. Symonds hasn't even made runs in state cricket for a long time now. Yet we fail to reward the young guys who are making plenty of runs and are in good form. It's a recipe for disaster.

That is true. But still he can be a good batsman when he wants to. Maybe he's just having an unlucky streak.

Andrew Symonds not picked for tour of South Africa. Hopefully this will spur him on to try harder on and off the field.

Andrew Symonds not picked for tour of South Africa. Hopefully this will spur him on to try harder on and off the field.

Maybe he might get a hair cut.

Hopefully Stuart Clark bounces back from these injuries, Mitchell Johnson is a future superstar and if Brett Lee bounces back that gives us one of the better pace attacks in world cricket. As for batting Clarke, Ponting and Katich are world class, Katich is such a consistent performer, Haddin proved to be a handy Keeper batsmen in the South Africa tests. I tend to agree that Mike Hussey so far has seemed to crumble a tad when the pressure's on. We seem to be missing a world class spinner and a solid and consistent all rounder. Personally I'm hoping that Watson can make his way back into the side as the all rounder and the 4th member of the pace attack, as for a spinner I think putting David Hussey in the side and sharing the spinning duties between himself, Clarke and Katich will have to do until someone else comes up. As for the other opener I'd put the new guy in, Hughes I think his name is, apparently a bit of a gun.

Katich
Hughes/Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
M. Hussey
D. Hussey
Haddin
Watson
Johnson
Lee
Clark

Then waiting in the wings for bowling will be Bollinger, Siddle, Tait, Bracken, Hilfenhaus who are all solid. When you look at that XI it's still pretty world class, really lack a specialist spinner though.

Normally I can't wait for the ashes, but this year I am not too fussed. We are shit now and you aussies ain't too much better.

Normally I can't wait for the ashes, but this year I am not too fussed. We are shit now and you aussies ain't too much better.


Nah - If you are shit then you will go in as favourites as we are pathetic at the moment.

I don't know how you guys have been playing recently, but i presume you are still regarded as the number 1 team in the world.

Can anybody enlighten me on your performances of the past 12 months?

I still think the Aussies will go in as favourites against any team in the world, but the other elites (S Africa, India and England) have caught up with the talent and can actually produce wins against you.

I don't know how you guys have been playing recently, but i presume you are still regarded as the number 1 team in the world.

Can anybody enlighten me on your performances of the past 12 months?

I still think the Aussies will go in as favourites against any team in the world, but the other elites (S Africa, India and England) have caught up with the talent and can actually produce wins against you.

http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/rankings/rankings.html

Australia are first on the test rankings and second on the one day rankings behind South Africa.

We lost the ODI against South Africa 4-1 and are currently losing the ODI to New Zealand 2-1.

I don't know how you guys have been playing recently, but i presume you are still regarded as the number 1 team in the world.

Can anybody enlighten me on your performances of the past 12 months?

I still think the Aussies will go in as favourites against any team in the world, but the other elites (S Africa, India and England) have caught up with the talent and can actually produce wins against you.

At home we go in favourites for sure. I'm not so certain about our favouritism outside of Australia however. Certainly not in India and prob not even SA now.

Hey at least you lot will always be better than us poms.

51 all out is disgusting.

Hey at least you lot will always be better than us poms.

51 all out is disgusting.

Oh yeah. You guys are goddam terrible.

im actually liking the cricket atm, south africa are monsters =). Cant wait to see how the aussie young guns reply over in south africa.

im actually liking the cricket atm, south africa are monsters =). Cant wait to see how the aussie young guns reply over in south africa.

Young guns? I don't rate any of the younger brigade as guns at the moment.
One thing I will say though. The solution to rebuilding the Australian cricket team is not to fill half the touring squad with the NSW Sheffield shield team.

Who won last nights match and the series?

Who won last nights match and the series?

We got lucky and the rain saved us from losing the series. The match was shortened to 22 overs per side due to rain an NZ needed 34 or 38 or something like that with 4 wickets in hand to win. The rain came and the match was abandoned. Australia keep the trophy. We will really need to improve drastically just to be competitive over in SA.

Young guns? I don't rate any of the younger brigade as guns at the moment.
One thing I will say though. The solution to rebuilding the Australian cricket team is not to fill half the touring squad with the NSW Sheffield shield team.

Here is another example of selection policies seeming to favour one state.

Moses Henriques will make his international 20/20 debut against New Zealand tomorrow. What I would like to know is what he has done to earn his selection to the National squad.

His career numbers

Batting
Domestic 20/20 14 matches averaging 14.63 H.S (42)
ODD - 20 matches averaging 18.61 H.S (43 N.O)
Sheffield Shield 8 matches @ 19.5 average (H.S 47)

Has not made a first class 50

Bowling
Domestic 20/20 14 matches averaging 29.6 (10 wickets)
Economy of 8.00 an over
ODD -20 matches (18 wickets @ 39.22) economy 5.38 per over.
Sheffield Shield 8 matches (10 wickets @ $37.10)

Hardly deserving of an international call up.
We need to sack the selectors first and then set about rebuilding the team from scratch. But an international cap must be earned by exceptional performances at domestic level not by which friggin state you represent..

Here is another example of selection policies seeming to favour one state.

Moses Henriques will make his international 20/20 debut against New Zealand tomorrow. What I would like to know is what he has done to earn his selection to the National squad.

His career numbers

Batting
Domestic 20/20 14 matches averaging 14.63 H.S (42)
ODD - 20 matches averaging 18.61 H.S (43 N.O)
Sheffield Shield 8 matches @ 19.5 average (H.S 47)

Has not made a first class 50

Bowling
Domestic 20/20 14 matches averaging 29.6 (10 wickets)
Economy of 8.00 an over
ODD -20 matches (18 wickets @ 39.22) economy 5.38 per over.
Sheffield Shield 8 matches (10 wickets @ $37.10)

Hardly deserving of an international call up.
We need to sack the selectors first and then set about rebuilding the team from scratch. But an international cap must be earned by exceptional performances at domestic level not by which friggin state you represent..


I agree. The selectors seem to have some kind of obsession with this guy even though he is yet to show anything like enough to be considered for the national side. It not only shows the NSW bias but also just how shallow Australian cricket is right now.

I wish Brett Lee and Stuart Clark were playing but they're both out injured :(

I wish Brett Lee and Stuart Clark were playing but they're both out injured :(

Clark is the big one we are missing. Lee is kind of terrible now to be honest. I doubt he will ever be a force at international level again. He has lost a great deal of his speed and that was really the only thing that separated him from the other solid State bowlers.

We had a better day today, 301-3.

Andrew Strauss got 169.

We had a better day today, 301-3.

Andrew Strauss got 169.

Colly about to get a century as well...we are back bitchezzzz.

Colly about to get a century as well...we are back bitchezzzz.


In all honesty England are a lot better than the West Indies. The last test was just one of those innings where nothing goes right. England and India are probably neck & neck for #2 test team at the moment behind the South Africans.

In all honesty England are a lot better than the West Indies. The last test was just one of those innings where nothing goes right. England and India are probably neck & neck for #2 test team at the moment behind the South Africans.

Dunno about that to be honest mate. In the Monk's unofficial rankings I have you Aussies third behind South Africa and India.

West Indies certainly are a poor side btw.

In all honesty England are a lot better than the West Indies. The last test was just one of those innings where nothing goes right. England and India are probably neck & neck for #2 test team at the moment behind the South Africans.

Haha, that is ridiculous. India are so far ahead of England right now it is a joke. I would say England are a borderline top 5 Test side now, and very borderline at that.

Australia, South Africa and India are clearly ahead of the rest. England are back with the other sides like Pakistan, NZ and the Windies.

Haha, that is ridiculous. India are so far ahead of England right now it is a joke. I would say England are a borderline top 5 Test side now, and very borderline at that.

Australia, South Africa and India are clearly ahead of the rest. England are back with the other sides like Pakistan, NZ and the Windies.

I bet you they win the ashes back in the next series.

England have

a) a good solid opening pair that have played together a while now
b) Pietersen is one of if not the best batsmen in the world at #4
c) Their bowling attack of Jimmy Anderson, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison & to a lesser extent Broad craps all over our attack.

Therefore in my opinion they have to at least be #3 in the world.

I bet you they win the ashes back in the next series.

England have

a) a good solid opening pair that have played together a while now
b) Pietersen is one of if not the best batsmen in the world at #4
c) Their bowling attack of Jimmy Anderson, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison & to a lesser extent Broad craps all over our attack.

Therefore in my opinion they have to at least be #3 in the world.

You wanna bet points on it?

I can't see it. We absolutely whooped them last time out and IMO their side looks no better now than it did then. If anything I think their bowling attack is even less potent. I would be surprised if we lost more than one match in the series.

Providing we have a fully fit attack I would take ours over theirs every day of the week. Anderson, Broad and Harmison are complete puss. Flintoff is a problem but only if he is in form and fit, and those are a couple of massive ifs. Batting wise we kill them. The series will be a thrashing.

Absolutely mate.
Their attack swing the ball in English conditions. Ours hardly move it at all.
20,000 points each? A drawn series means no winner okay? England beat us in England last time and our team is a lot weaker now compared to then.

Absolutely mate.
Their attack swing the ball in English conditions. Ours hardly move it at all.
20,000 points each? A drawn series means no winner okay? England beat us in England last time and our team is a lot weaker now compared to then.

You're on brother. 20k, sig it up. I would say good luck but this is the Ashes we are talking about.

You're on brother. 20k, sig it up. I would say good luck but this is the Ashes we are talking about.

Okay mate I'll sig it but only if you spell my nick right in your sig. :P

Okay mate I'll sig it but only if you spell my nick right in your sig. :P

ROFL.

Alright dude I will try my best. No promises though.

ROFL.

Alright dude I will try my best. No promises though.

Good man - It's a bet.

Yeah we might not have improved that much, but the point is Australia have declined considerably :lol1:.

I'm just happy that Owais Shah has finally, FINALLY been given another go in the test team. Shah is by far better than Ian 'continually scores in the 30's then gets out' Bell. It's ridiculous he has had to wait this long when he has looked considerably better than some England batsmen for years.

Yeah we might not have improved that much, but the point is Australia have declined considerably :lol1:.

I'm just happy that Owais Shah has finally, FINALLY been given another go in the test team. Shah is by far better than Ian 'continually scores in the 30's then gets out' Bell. It's ridiculous he has had to wait this long when he has looked considerably better than some England batsmen for years.

That's exactly as I see it. We have dropped like a lead balloon in the cricket rankings since our last ashes tour. There are no Warne's, McGrath's or Gilchrist's coming through either. It's our turn to be in the cricket wilderness for a while. The wheel always turns.

That's exactly as I see it. We have dropped like a lead balloon in the cricket rankings since our last ashes tour. There are no Warne's, McGrath's or Gilchrist's coming through either. It's our turn to be in the cricket wilderness for a while. The wheel always turns.

If you are that sure you should probably look at laying some proper money on it mate. I think the bookies will be giving you healthy odds.

If you are that sure you should probably look at laying some proper money on it mate. I think the bookies will be giving you healthy odds.

I just might do that my friend, but if we are say whitewashed in South Africa then those odds might dive.

I just might do that my friend, but if we are say whitewashed in South Africa then those odds might dive.

You think we will be whitewashed in SA?

Honestly I think some ppl are over-reacting a bit. We should have won that series against SA over here. I admit it will be tougher over there but I think it is going to be very competitive.

Cricket a touch boring imo. Sorry I know that doesn't help. But I can't sit and watch those ****ing test matches. 20 20 is the go.
no 20/20 is like a one night stand nothing meaningful unlike a test where u see stamina, endurance and fighting to the end in test match sometimes when a team battles for a draw its exciting to see them pull it off, however 20/20 can replace the one days.

Stating the obvious, but aren't our glory days a distant memory now?

I'd say we're going to be just a competitive 3rd-5th ranked team over the next 5 years. We don't have a single world class bowler for a start and Ponting is our only bonafide superstar. Blokes like Hussey played well in a winning team, but don't seem to have the go to perform from behind the 8 ball.

If you look at our team it's a good one, just not a great one. Players like Marsh, Hopes and D. Hussey are good honest cricketers, just not the calibre of the players we've had over the last decade.

Warner is obviously talented, but needs at least another 2 years of development before we start to see some consistency.

Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus are all solid, but nothing more.

We're truly back in the pack IMO. I'll still be watching.
yes its behind but lets so how the ashes go to see how far down list u guys should be

England are struggling badly to get rid of the WIndies on the last day of the second test. I watched an hour or so this morning and their bowling was woeful, completely without penetration.

Woftam if you want to increase our wager just let me know. I'm happy to go as high as you want to.

LOL, the Windies drew the match. England are a joke.

Great win for the Aussies overnight. Proving we are still the number one test team in the world.

Great win for the Aussies overnight. Proving we are still the number one test team in the world.

USA aren't far behind us.

Atleast team Pakistan aren't firing guns at you yet.

England are not better than Australia, Australia would never get out in an innings for under a hundred, especially to the West Indies who are miles behind. Australia losing to South Africa took a few Houdini like escapes from the South Africans, now Australia have gone over there and beaten them in game one. Tis fare to say imo that Australia and the Saffas are locked at number 1 with India a small step behind. England are probably next, then the others.

How how the Sri Lankans been going lately? How was their form leading up the this Pakistan attack? I love the Sri Lankans, Sangakarra is dangerously good.

Hey woftam, you still think we get whooped in the Ashes?

Hey woftam, you still think we get whooped in the Ashes?

Well put it this way buddy, I'm not too confident. :P

The whole South African team have been beaten black and blue by Australia! Mitchell Johnson's been on a rampage over there busting G. Smith up twice and testing Jacques Kallis' chin out. The guy's a smilling assassin.lol

Hughes has been killing it also with two tons in two tests. Don't know why Brad Hodge isn't in there cos he's the best credentialed batsman not in that side. NSW players are secretly given their Baggy Green when given their Blue Cap. Victoria gave Queensland a nice touch-up scoring 800-odd at the G recently. Should be a good Shield Final starting Friday.

England are a lot better at home then they are away :D.

England are a lot better at home then they are away :D.

Wanna bet points on the Ashes?

Yeah i will do, but closer to the time because i've got my points bet on fights before then.

Yeah i will do, but closer to the time because i've got my points bet on fights before then.

No worries. Hit me up when the time comes.

What about that catch by Haddin with his legs? :lol1:

What about that catch by Haddin with his legs? :lol1:

Yeah, symbolic of the entire series really. We definately caught the breaks this time round.

Yeah, symbolic of the entire series really. We definately caught the breaks this time round.


No it's symbolic of Haddin's glovework all series and the series in Australia. He has put a few down and let a lot of bye's through. He needs to lift his game behind the stumps. He isn't no Healy, Gilchrist or Marsh.

No it's symbolic of Haddin's glovework all series and the series in Australia. He has put a few down and let a lot of bye's through. He needs to lift his game behind the stumps. He isn't no Healy, Gilchrist or Marsh.

Sure his glove work isn't up to that level but I think it is good enough and his batting is definately of a high enough level.

When you say he "needs to lift his game" you sound like we have someone who offers any sort of reasonable alternative. We don't. Haddin is number one and daylight is second.

To this day I still can't understand what all the fuss was about when England beat Australia in 2005? It was the first time England won the Ashes in 20 odd years and they acted like they won the World Cup or something with month long celebrations and double-decker bus rides thru London.

England were brought back to reality with a thud in 2006 Ashes series with a 5-0 drubbing thanks to Warnie and McGrath. Loved the look on the Poms faces when they got 450 odd runs in Adelaide thinking they'd beat Australia when enter Shane Warne and the English were crying bad after they were beaten.

Sure his glove work isn't up to that level but I think it is good enough and his batting is definately of a high enough level.

When you say he "needs to lift his game" you sound like we have someone who offers any sort of reasonable alternative. We don't. Haddin is number one and daylight is second.

Haddin is the best option but he needs to work on his keeping and work hard. You are spot on there is no other obvious alternative that's why he needs to improve. Especially when he is up at the stumps. I just don't have the confidence in him I had in past keepers for Australia. Without giving away my age :) I've been watching a while.