Are Australia now more dominant in ODIs than Tests?

[sp-mac]

Throughout the 90s I think there was a general conception that Australia had a well refined Test team, while the challenges were more prevelant in the ODIs. Particularly where the subcontinant sides began what now is really a tradition of all out attack in the first 15 overs, which Australia and the rest of the world took a little while to catch up with.

Particularly against India though, the intimidation that seemed so prevelant in our test team (especially in the run of 16 wins) seems more apparent in the ODIs while there is a little more resolve in the Indian Test team.

I know Australia are the best in the world in both versions of the game still, but I think the gap is bigger in ODIs than in tests where it may not have been in previous years. An undeafeted world cup campaign is an indication of where this team is at.

Thoughts?

[Unwritten_Law]

It's a lot easier to replace McGrath and Warne in the one day team. Those two are the reason we have lost the polish in the test arena.

Also, Hayden breaking into the one day side and Symonds/Harvey finally delivering something has made us a much stronger side.

[Port01]

We also carried people like Steve Waugh a lot longer in the test side.

It still irks me when people go on about his magnificent Sydney last ball ton. The only reason it was even notable is he hadn't made runs for so long everyone wanted him dropped. A century doesn't justify your place in the team if someone else could get 2 or 3 a series.

[IceTemple]

That's the issue Port01.

In the test arena it is much easier to "carry" an unworthy player for longer than in the ODI arena. There is always going to be problems in how long is long enough for each individual in tests.

In the ODI's the focus is always the next WC so you keep the players young enough and fresh enough for it. In the test arena there is no such focus so this allows the individual to be a bit more selfish and possibly play past their use-by date.

[Rough_Edges]

i myself think we have been better in ODI's than Tests for the past few years. I am nearly always confident when we play ODI's against any team but no so much wit htests because we aren't very good at holding our wickets any more, And when it gets into the 2nd day and we are 8 wickets down and on 300 we have to put more pressure on the tail to make another 30-40 runs.

While when we are only 4 down and have made 250 runs because we have tried to play oursleves into the match we have another 2-3 hours to mkae another 150 runs....

while in ODI's we doesn't matter so much if we are 8 wickets down after 40 overs and have made 280 .... Rather than being 4 wickets down and at 220.

See what I mean?>

[DIG]

Originally posted by sp-mac

Thoughts?

Yep, I agree. Our one-day side is so well-balanced at the moment. Even the all-rounder problem we've had in years gone by is no more with the likes of Symonds and Harvey maturing into the role, and Watson in the wings.

Most of the ODI team who played yesterday should still be around come next world cup.

Test team is going through a transitional phase with new captain, a new middle-order without S.Waugh regardless of who ends up taking his place.

Plus the bowling lineup has been unsettled for some time and will remain so for a while yet. Clouds still over McGrath and Warney although I'm confident his comeback will be successful, plus hopefully Lee can carry over some of his improved form into the longer version of the game, but will he?

Despite all this, our test team will remain very strong, but I can't see it dominating to the extent it has in recent years bar India. Our one-day team looks the stronger of the two at present.

[red+black]

i am convinced that we will remain #1 in one day cricket for years to come. the competition is greater in test cricket, but only because we can't stabilise our bowling line-up. we are slowly coming down to the level of other nations, rather than them dramatically lifting their own levels of competition.

[Cooldude]

It's all about bowling attacks, since our batting will always get runs in both forms of the game.

We used to have a superior Test bowling attack with McGrath and Warne, both are better test bowlers than ODI bowlers (McGrath as good in both forms).

With them gone, there's only Dizzy who's a world class bowler, Macgill perhaps when he bowls well, the rest are pants.

So yes, our ODI team is currently better than our test team.

[red+black]

Originally posted by Cooldude
We used to have a superior Test bowling attack with McGrath and Warne, both are better test bowlers than ODI bowlers (McGrath as good in both forms).

With them gone
You're not forgetting Warne's performances in the 99 SF and F are you?

Who said McGrath's gone? And Warne may well decide to return to international ODIs. I pity our opposition.

[Cooldude]

Originally posted by red+black
You're not forgetting Warne's performances in the 99 SF and F are you?

Who said McGrath's gone? And Warne may well decide to return to international ODIs. I pity our opposition.

Of course, Warne won us the 99 World cup (While St Tugga got us in it), but still, for the past few years, Warne has never been a dominate ODI bowler. He does his job, bowling while not going for much runs, finishes his overs quickly and gets off, if there is a wicket or two in between, then good.

Not the kinda choking new ball bowler that Mcgrath is, McGrath constantly gets us an early breakthrough while going for around 2 per over.

McGrath's been gone for almost a year, might be a while before we see him in Aus colours again, though Warne might wanna return to ODI, IMO he shouldn't.

[Black Thunder]

I do think that Australia are now dominant in the one dayers than tests, and have probably been for about 12-18 months.

As people have said, this has been due to the fact Hayden, Symonds and Harvey have all stepped up.

And the lack of impact of great bowlers such as McGrath and Warne over that period isn't shown up as much in the one dayers (as it is a batsmens game) as it is in the tests (where bowlers win you matcheds)