The Steve Waugh era

A lot of people probably just think of VB and his drinking antics when they consider Boon, but he was also a very good batsman, not mention magnificent fielding at bat pad. Underrated imo.

No way, Dizzy at his best was mesmerizing, best fast bowler in the world. He had everything, speed, bounce, accuracy, smarts. During 2000-2004 he was fearsome

Consider how many catches we dropped. Consider the pissweak efforts from our batsmen to occupy the crease. What was basically the same team then went until the third test in 2007-2008 at the WACA against India before losing another test, and in that same time won every game except for a draw against South Africa. That series was a massive wake-up call, but unfortunately the lessons were forgotten as soon as we won the Ashes back.

Waugh > Taylor = Chappell > Border > Ponting > Hughes. Way to early to rank Clarke, although I certainly think he could end up the best.

You're giving Border an out by saying he didn't have a great side. It's a captain's job to get as much as he can from the team. Clarke is showing us now that when you back your players (making aggressive declarations) you win more matches. Same goes for Waugh batting with the tail; he backed them and they became better for it.

Think Mark Waugh was not the best batsman, but his bowling was handy and you can't forget his amazing fielding.

I reference to the 05 ashes I swear we would of won that series if DRS was available at the time. Think about the howlers that would of been overturned.

That series wasn't much of Ponting being a bad captain, but Vaughn being an amazing captain. I can't think of a bad move he did that whole series. Great tactics by him.

While I do sort of feel that Mark Waugh was Australia's Carl Hooper, insofar as he found dumb ways to get out and lacked the desire to make big scores*, he did average closer to 45 during the 1990's, which is reasonably impressive.

He played on for too long though, explaining his lowish career average.

(*Waugh had the better Test career, but Hooper did somehow find it in himself to score 233 at the end of his career - funny)

Mark Waugh still hit 20 test tons, some bloody good ones in there as well. His career post-2001 ashes was pretty dire IIRC but he was a bloody good bat (amongst my favourite to watch thats for sure).

Re the 05 ashes, McGrath tredding on that ball had a huge effect, he wasnt fully fit for either of the test he played after that and after killing them at Lords his loss was huge. There wasnt anyone to keep the pressure on.

All my favourite batsmen are Mark Waugh types, him, Carl Hooper, Azar, Gower, so beautiful to watch when in flight, also so wasteful and held their wicket at a similar value as the Zim dollar, Azar excepted who may have been offered $US to throw away his wicket.

Personally, I look back on it with great regret. Regret that I took it all for granted. I was too young to appreciate the hard work that went in to building that side (and Taylor's), as a teenager of the 90s, I arrogantly assumed Australia had a right to be the best.

I'm ashamed to say that until the turn of the century used to barrack for the underdog, ie whoever was playing Australia. Including England.

Met Waugh at an after party at the Olympics in London a few months ago, asked him where his little red cloth was but he couldnt string a sentence together. Was disappointed.

Lee= Gillespie, Clark > Gillespie.

Whatever you are smoking, stop taking it.

Dizzy's record until his decline and then shunning by selectors was almost McGrath like. Unbelieveable bowler who the selectors f'ed over in the end after one really bad tour.

Clark=Lee maybe.

It goes McGrath=Warne>Gillespie>>MacGill>>>>>>>>>>>>Fleming>>Lee=Clark=Kaspa

On Carl Hooper I remember Taylor a few years ago saying that as a Captain he would often completely run dry of ideas as how to get him out when he was piling on the runs, only for Carl to then do something completely out of the blue and screw up himself..

Another failed Redbacks import.


Damn it!!!!

Brilliant, just brilliant, I haven't enjoyed cricket as much since. Obviously I idolized the dude, from the ruthless, steely way he dismissed me when I asked for an autograph to modelling my approach toward sexual, racial and personal abuse on the cricket field on his tactics for psychological warfare - much to my cousin's chagrin during family games. He elevated players like Damien Martyn and the BNG to greatness and made me not fall asleep during the world cup, so I have the utmost respect.

cause they were one of the best teams ever...

Steve Waugh would of been a good captain with any team, not everyone would of been able to control all those egos in the dressing room yet he seemed to have them all marching to the same beat.

I said who I miss the most, not who was the best or who we miss the most. Obviously he would be behind a few.

Clark was a jet though. Goes underrated.

He's not underrated if you are putting him anywhere near Gillespie.

win the toss and bat and give Freddie a bowl?

it's well known now that not all of them got along.

Maybe I underrate Dizzy, I didn't see a great deal of him.

I seem to remember him sooking when he was hit in the head in the first test at Lords, and then again when a substitute ran him out. Ponting seemed desperate to be friendly with the English while they were just focussed on winning.

did he ever even play for the red backs, i know he moved to SA because he married a woman from there.

i do remember Taylor commenting once that he always rated Hooper as one of the modt talented players that he ever played against on ability