View Full Version : Are we witnessing the beginning of the end?
Wicked Lester
16 Oct 2003, 13:12
McGrath, MacGill and Lehmann are all on the wrong side of 30. Gillespie is notoriously injury prone.
Does this latest spate of injuries mark the beginning of the break up of this remarkable Australian side?
On face value arguably not, as with any luck all will be back in the side by the new year, but it is lucky these injuries are during a series against Zimbabwe and not at the start of a tour of Sri Lanka or India.
But perhaps, just perhaps, they mark the start of what might be a growing number of niggles and problems for the test side as the impact of ageing takes hold.
If McGrath's abilities are diminished by injury, Lehmann has to call it quits, Warney fails to rejuvenate his career and one or two other unfroseen injuries hit next years tours of Sri Lanka and India, 2004 could prove to be a watershed year.
And it may turn out that Tugga's personal ambitions to complete 'unfinished business' prove to be pure folly. I wonder whether the past year with soft series against England, the Windies, Bangladesh and now Zimbabwe wont turn out to be seen as the year of wasted opportunities - when a Michael Clarke, Matthew Innes (there's another issue!!) or other younger players shouldn't have been given a solid grounding in test cricket prior to a physically demanding 2004 and prior to the inevitable rush of retirements (forced or otherwise) that confront Australian cricket over the next few years?
Well we all know who should go first - I read with interest the players "code of conduct" bullsh*t and was intrigued by the little gem that the players wanted to leave the game in better condition than when they entered it.
in that case Waugh should get out - NOW.
He's past his best as a batsman, he has about as much sportsmanship as my a***hole after a night on the turps, and an ego that's bigger than the size of the portraits in the Long Room at the MCG (RIP).
I am actually at the stage when I can't bear to read or hear any of the unctuous drivel that comes out of his mouth.
Roll on the Ponting era!
Russian
16 Oct 2003, 18:22
McGrath - Bichel
Lehmann - Clarke
Waugh - Love
MacGill - White
im not worried, Lee & Gillespie are still young. Williams, Bracken, Noffke are able to fill the gap as the fourth quickie until Kelly, Tait, Bollinger, Clark come through
Demon37
17 Oct 2003, 23:36
We'll be fine.
Langer - Still has a lot of cricket left in him.
Hayden - Likewise.
Ponting - At 28 he could be around for the next 10 years.
Martyn - Going nowhere just yet.
Waugh - Nearly at the end.
Lehmann - Should be booted soon. Too old.
Gilchrist - Has heaps of cricket left in him.
Warne - Says he will play until he is 38-39.
Lee - Young.
Gillespie - Young.
McGrath - His career is coming to an end.
After we beat India in 2004, I hope to see a few changes:
Waugh - Retire.
Lehmann - Retire.
McGrath - Retire.
Martyn - To go if he can't regain form.
And have a side looking like this:
Langer (who will be 33)
Hayden (33)
Ponting (29)
Katich (28)
Clarke (23)
Watson (23)
Gilchrist (32)
Warne (35)
Lee (27)
Gillespie (29)
Williams (29)
It's still not an old side, and this is one year from now.
The dominance of Australian cricket has a long way to go yet.
Originally posted by Demon37
Martyn - To go if he can't regain form. I didn't know he'd lost form?
stmookeyj
18 Oct 2003, 01:13
Originally posted by Demon37
We'll be fine.
Langer - Still has a lot of cricket left in him.
Hayden - Likewise.
Ponting - At 28 he could be around for the next 10 years.
Martyn - Going nowhere just yet.
Waugh - Nearly at the end.
Lehmann - Should be booted soon. Too old.
Gilchrist - Has heaps of cricket left in him.
Warne - Says he will play until he is 38-39.
Lee - Young.
Gillespie - Young.
McGrath - His career is coming to an end.
After we beat India in 2004, I hope to see a few changes:
Waugh - Retire.
Lehmann - Retire.
McGrath - Retire.
Martyn - To go if he can't regain form.
And have a side looking like this:
Langer (who will be 33)
Hayden (33)
Ponting (29)
Katich (28)
Clarke (23)
Watson (23)
Gilchrist (32)
Warne (35)
Lee (27)
Gillespie (29)
Williams (29)
It's still not an old side, and this is one year from now.
The dominance of Australian cricket has a long way to go yet.
And the back up for them would include?????
in that case Waugh should get out - NOW.
He's past his best as a batsman, he has about as much sportsmanship as my a***hole after a night on the turps, and an ego that's bigger than the size of the portraits in the Long Room at the MCG (RIP).
I am actually at the stage when I can't bear to read or hear any of the unctuous drivel that comes out of his mouth.
Is it just me or does he seem to be playing for records and achievements now? Hundred against Bangladesh to get him tons against all nations, trying to get the hundred at Perth to complete the Australian set. Surely he realises that knocking up runs against pisweak teams isn't all the glory he makes it out to be.
A while ago it seemed like he was having press conferences and making comments about everything from slegding to the sate of the womens hygeine products industry.
And you're right about his level of sportsmanship. He barely even walks from the crease when he has been clean bowled.
Demon37
18 Oct 2003, 11:40
Originally posted by scmods
I didn't know he'd lost form?
IIRC, he hasn't scored a century since early 2002.
docker_johnno
18 Oct 2003, 12:01
Originally posted by Demon37
IIRC, he hasn't scored a century since early 2002.
Ton against England early this year (1 day)
250 odd in County 4 weeks ago!
Cupido13
20 Oct 2003, 13:51
Originally posted by docker_johnno
Ton against England early this year (1 day)
250 odd in County 4 weeks ago!
If this mattered for anything then Michael Hussey would be the Test captain as he has scored 4 County triple hundred. I agree, he is out of form and struggling for run. He hasn't scored a test hundred in about 25 innings.
Cupido13
20 Oct 2003, 13:53
Originally posted by P76
in that case Waugh should get out - NOW.
He's past his best as a batsman, he has about as much sportsmanship as my a***hole after a night on the turps, and an ego that's bigger than the size of the portraits in the Long Room at the MCG (RIP).
Just so your know his Test match average is 100+ over the last year. I understand they have been playing ordinary sides, however no one else averages over 100 in the last calendar year.
Originally posted by Cupido13
Just so your know his Test match average is 100+ over the last year. I understand they have been playing ordinary sides, however no one else averages over 100 in the last calendar year.
...and Langer managed 108 runs in 5 hits at an average of 21 in the past 4 tests against the Bangladeshis and Zimbos. He's next in line for the chop of the batsman you'd imagine.
crudbucket
20 Oct 2003, 18:35
Originally posted by Cupido13
Just so your know his Test match average is 100+ over the last year. I understand they have been playing ordinary sides, however no one else averages over 100 in the last calendar year.
What is Matty Hayden's average ??? Must be close, surely ??
Are we witnessing the beginning of the end?
Yes and no.
Yes, we are seeing the beginning of the end of one of, if not, the best teams of all time. We have been lucky to see a side containing the best spinner of all time, the best captain of time, the best wicketkeeper/batsman of all time. Add to that McGrath, Gillespie, Ponting & Hayden and it explains why this Australian side will never be bettered. This side has been an exciting/attacking side and records have been created which may never be broken.
No, because while the side won't be as good as it has been in the past, it will still be good enough to be the best side in the world for the next 5 years. Tests & Series' may be closer, we may also draw or lose a few more tests, but with the depth we have at the moment it will still be a relatively strong side.
Originally posted by Demon37
We'll be fine.
And have a side looking like this:
Langer (who will be 33)
Hayden (33)
Ponting (29)
Katich (28)
Clarke (23)
Watson (23)
Gilchrist (32)
Warne (35)
Lee (27)
Gillespie (29)
Williams (29)
It's still not an old side,
Not exactly bloody young when the youngest is 27!
I would make it a point to blood 2 young players (bat and bowl) now in order to find the next Ponting and McGrath.
Originally posted by Mog
Is it just me or does he seem to be playing for records and achievements now? Hundred against Bangladesh to get him tons against all nations, trying to get the hundred at Perth to complete the Australian set. Disgraceful behaviour!! He definitely should have just thrown his wicket away at about 30 in those innings. :rolleyes:
Demon37
20 Oct 2003, 22:27
Originally posted by StarBoy
Not exactly bloody young when the youngest is 27!
I would make it a point to blood 2 young players (bat and bowl) now in order to find the next Ponting and McGrath.
Watson and Clarke will be 23.
guess_who
21 Oct 2003, 13:01
watson wont play test he is useless