View Full Version : Do you wish that the test series against NZ was dropped?
As I give NZ no chance of winning a test, do you wish we could just forget about them, and have a five test series against the South Africans? I really do wish that this could happen. They are the only country that I believe could beat us in Australia.
Great_Unknown
3 Nov 2001, 18:36
I hope for the game's sake that NZ make a contest out of the upcoming series, but I agree that it will be another one-sided affair. An extended series against South Africa would be a great idea, but maybe in South Africa perhaps?
I'd suggest only South Africa and Pakistan at full strength are the only sides capable enough to topple Australia.
South Africa will give the Aussies a run for their money i reckon - and i hope NZ make a contest
I reckon we should've played three here against the South Africans then another 3 over there.
Never supported an underdog play on?
OK after your five test series against South Africa then what? Retreat back to the Pura Cup and tell the rest of the world how great you are?
Should the quality of the Australian side deteriorate, and this certainly has happened in the past, should other countries on principal then unilaterally refuse to play against Australia also.
From 1948 till 1973 Australia didn't play a single test against New Zealand because Australia was reluctant to play in such a probable one sided result, but guess what happened in '73, New Zealand drew a three test series one all.
I know New Zealand cricket is in the B List, I have seen the regular series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and now possibly Bangladesh but the fact is the core of this team have defeated England, India, Pakistan, the Windies, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe all in a test series at least once in the last few years and only really have consistently had the possum caught in the headlights look against South Africa. Just look at the results from the Australian v New Zealand 3 - nil series last year, a series far more competitive than some of the dross offered by many supposedly stronger teams, and more than one of those tests could have gone either way.
Of course they have also lost tests and test series against most of these teams but the fact is they have also won them, and remember that it is called a test because that is what it is, and friction in the heat of battle can ruin even the best laid plains.
I also would have thought that the recent experience of the Windies tour last year and the Ashes this year that extended tours can quickly disintegrate into a complete rout, and even you would have to admit that only in South Africa under the most favourable conditions would the Proteas have a realistic chance of holding Australia.
South Africa could push Australia but from what I have seen of their team over the past year, and has not Allan Donald retired? Pollock is the only player who would automatically make the current Australian team.
Talking up NZ as being competitive then bagging a superior SA team is not being contradictory, Australia at home is the best in the world and the Kiwi's will at some stage really struggle, but so would anybody else.
This kiwi team my not have the extraordinary depth of talent of the Australians, but they certainly are not the rabble that toured in 1993.
Prediction: Australia 2 - New Zealand 0
I don't think it's the way to go being too high & mighty & thinking yourselves above certain sides, the Kiwis are likely to be more competitive in Australia than a lot of sides would be.It is worrying that Bangladesh have now got Test status & everyone will be forced to play them due to the world championship-I'm sure that they'll prove to be terible away from home but may be fairly tough in Bangladesh.
It is unfortunate that Australia can't fit in a 5 Test series agianst SA in Australia, as from speaking to many Aussie cricket fans they're getting a bit bored with just smashing the opposition & actually crave a tough series.I don't actually think that SA are as good as people think but it does seem strange to me that England seem to be about the only country who still hang onto trying to play 5 match series against certain teams.The 5 match series is rubbish if one team gets stuffed but there is something unrewarding about a 3 match series between to evenly matched sides especially if it ends up as a 1-1 draw.I fear that the World Test Championship will see the end of the 5 match series even in Ashes cricket.
GoEagles
4 Nov 2001, 18:07
Player - I know Donald didn't play test cricket for about half a year, but he's put his hand up for the current test tour to Australia. I'm not too sure if he's retired from the one day games however.
Do you know why he isn't playing against the Indians?
I would have thought bowling against Tendulkar and co would have been an ideal build up then for their tour.
The Hippie
4 Nov 2001, 20:41
Originally posted by kretchy
I reckon we should've played three here against the South Africans then another 3 over there.
That's already happening, kretchy. The Aussies leave for SA at the end of Feb for 3 tests and a few one dayers. Saw it advertised on Foxsports today.
The Hippie
4 Nov 2001, 20:45
And to anwer the original question, no, we can't stop playing against NZ, it's all part of the new Test Championship series. We have to still play 3 Tests at home and away over a period of 10 years? or is it 5, I can't remember know.
Originally posted by kretchy
I reckon we should've played three here against the South Africans then another 3 over there.
That is what is happening. Australia will tour SA for 3 tests in February.
I don't think it will be all that one-sided.
The kiwis batted tremendously well against a quality attack on the weekend. Their problem seems to be in the bowling department, but I think they can score enough runs to make for a competitive series.
GoEagles
5 Nov 2001, 21:28
Originally posted by Player
Do you know why he isn't playing against the Indians?
No Idea, Injury perhaps?
If it was dropped, I would miss out on my dose of international cricket at the WACA. South Af do play the Western Warriors but I mean come on, they will declare for something like 750/2 or something with our current bowling.
GoEagles
6 Nov 2001, 21:28
Originally posted by Visro
If it was dropped, I would miss out on my dose of international cricket at the WACA. South Af do play the Western Warriors but I mean come on, they will declare for something like 750/2 or something with our current bowling.
I might go to that game, if Donald plays. Didn't he say he wants to play one domestic season with the Warriors after he retires because he loves bowling at the WACA?