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Is the Aussie cricket team the greatest TEAM in history?

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CaptainDangerfield

CaptainDangerfield

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Certainly one the most arrogant. But that aside, is the S Waugh/R Ponting cricket teams of the latest 10 years the greatest sporting team in history?

I can't think of many others that would compare. Even the great West Indian teams didn't dominate for us long as the Aussies.

Possible contenders:

-US Basketball Team
Can't think of any others.
 
SpringChoke said:
Certainly one the most arrogant. But that aside, is the S Waugh/R Ponting cricket teams of the latest 10 years the greatest sporting team in history?

I can't think of many others that would compare. Even the great West Indian teams didn't dominate for us long as the Aussies.

Possible contenders:

-US Basketball Team
Can't think of any others.
Click to expand...

If you're referring to the "Dream Team", the US Basketball Team was a professional league team playing in an amateur Olympics, at a time when basketball really took off internationally - the US were always going to win. But that was only for one Olympics. Cricket isn't as widely played, but those teams that do play are long established (well, except Bangladesh). I'd argue we're better than the Dream Team because our competitors have been playing at the same level of international competition for a lot longer, but we are far dominant over this era. The only better team would have to be a sport which is established and more internationally played - perhaps soccer - but no one national team there seems to wholly dominate (yes Brazil does well but not that well).
 

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SpringChoke said:
Certainly one the most arrogant. But that aside, is the S Waugh/R Ponting cricket teams of the latest 10 years the greatest sporting team in history?

I can't think of many others that would compare. Even the great West Indian teams didn't dominate for us long as the Aussies.

Possible contenders:

-US Basketball Team
Can't think of any others.
Click to expand...

I have never been one for this team from this era Vs that team from that era

BUT

I often wonder how that super Windies team would go against us in particular Haynes,Grenidge,Richards and LLoyd go against Warnie

Hayden,Langer,Waughs,Ponting,Hussey and Gilly go against Roberts,Gardner,Holding,Marshall,

For what it is worth i think we would just go under then that would depend on Warnie cause i think we would strugle to bowl them out twice
 
deaneus said:
If you're referring to the "Dream Team", the US Basketball Team was a professional league team playing in an amateur Olympics, at a time when basketball really took off internationally - the US were always going to win. But that was only for one Olympics. Cricket isn't as widely played, but those teams that do play are long established (well, except Bangladesh). I'd argue we're better than the Dream Team because our competitors have been playing at the same level of international competition for a lot longer, but we are far dominant over this era. The only better team would have to be a sport which is established and more internationally played - perhaps soccer - but no one national team there seems to wholly dominate (yes Brazil does well but not that well).
Click to expand...

Yeah I thought about the Olympics when i started this thread. I don't think you can compare a team that only plays together every couple of years as opposed to the Aussies who play regularly against the best in the world.

I can't think of any sporting team that comes close to us in world dominance (can think of alot of individuals but no teams). I think the Aussie cricket team of the Waugh/Ponting era is the best sporting team this little planet has seen and will see for quite some time.
 
birdmanptr said:
I have never been one for this team from this era Vs that team from that era

BUT

I often wonder how that super Windies team would go against us in particular Haynes,Grenidge,Richards and LLoyd go against Warnie

Hayden,Langer,Waughs,Ponting,Hussey and Gilly go against Roberts,Gardner,Holding,Marshall,

For what it is worth i think we would just go under then that would depend on Warnie cause i think we would strugle to bowl them out twice
Click to expand...

I reckon the West Indies of that era would go close to the second best sporting team in history.
 
Sorry but that Dream team of 1992 was amazing. Amateur olympics or not, that team was the greatest team I've ever seen assembled.

Bird, Johnson, Jordan, Barkley, Pippen, Malone, Stockton just to name a few.

Best team assembled imo.
 
The problem with labelling the Dream Team the best team ever, is that although they were an amazing team, the game of basketball was only really just starting to go global. Nowadays, there at that many European players that are dominant in the NBA, it is really hard to make the same comparisons.
 
I really think you have to consider the competiton you are up against, before making statements like this. This is not the most competitive era of cricket. How many nations actually take cricket seriously anyway. In terms of serious cricketing nations I would have Australia, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa (I know there are others, but I said serious cricketing nations). Thats 8 teams.
To be the best team of 8, albeit for an extended period of time by no means gives you the title of greatest sporting team in my humble opinion.
The dream team would be miles ahead in my opinion, put together wehn Basketball at its peak, seriously challenging soccer as the number 1 sports in the world. Every country was serious about basketball at that time and you knew as a team they were unbeatable regardless of the competiton. On top of that, for a team of superstars, the dream team played with the greatest humilty, guys like johnson, jordan and bird were pure class on and off the court.
There would also be about a dozen soccer teams and maybe a few rugby teams you would have to put in front of the current Australian Cricket team, in my opinion of course.

I would have the West Indies in front of this team and Steve Waughs side in front of this time purely because the competition was much more even and fierce and to dominate was much harder. But, I can see why some may say they are the greatest cricket team of all time, but definitely not the greatest sporting team.
 
Mikes4 said:
The problem with labelling the Dream Team the best team ever, is that although they were an amazing team, the game of basketball was only really just starting to go global. Nowadays, there at that many European players that are dominant in the NBA, it is really hard to make the same comparisons.
Click to expand...

I see your point Mike there are many more Europeans in the NBA nowadays, I'm not sure you would say dominating though. I have no hesitation though in saying you could put any basketball team together from any country and era and 99 times out of 100 the original dream team will beat that team. Guys like Jordan, Johnson, Bird, Barkley, thomas, malone, robinson, pippen were some of the greatest ever basket players of any era. In my opinon that was the peak of basketball, the standard and competition is not it used to be.
 

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BunjiMac said:
I really think you have to consider the competiton you are up against, before making statements like this. This is not the most competitive era of cricket. How many nations actually take cricket seriously anyway. In terms of serious cricketing nations I would have Australia, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa (I know there are others, but I said serious cricketing nations). Thats 8 teams.
To be the best team of 8, albeit for an extended period of time by no means gives you the title of greatest sporting team in my humble opinion.
The dream team would be miles ahead in my opinion, put together wehn Basketball at its peak, seriously challenging soccer as the number 1 sports in the world. Every country was serious about basketball at that time and you knew as a team they were unbeatable regardless of the competiton. On top of that, for a team of superstars, the dream team played with the greatest humilty, guys like johnson, jordan and bird were pure class on and off the court.
There would also be about a dozen soccer teams and maybe a few rugby teams you would have to put in front of the current Australian Cricket team, in my opinion of course.

I would have the West Indies in front of this team and Steve Waughs side in front of this time purely because the competition was much more even and fierce and to dominate was much harder. But, I can see why some may say they are the greatest cricket team of all time, but definitely not the greatest sporting team.
Click to expand...

How long did the dream team dominate for? I'm not sure as I don't follow basketball.
 
BunjiMac said:
Oh and thats not taking into considerationSports we don't see like Ice Hockey and Baseball.
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That's what I would love to know. Is their any other sporting team that has dominated as much as the Aussie cricket team (or even come close). I can't think of one in soccer, Rugby Union , League. You could possibly say NZ Rugby team but then they regularly choke on the biggest stage so that rules them out.

I would love to know how regularly the US dream team played together and how long they dominated for.
 
Dominating is pointless if the cometition is not up to scratch, doesnt matter if its for 10 years.

If you just interested in longest winning streaks then thats a different story, but you cannot say a team is the greatest just because they have dominated for a while, you have to see things in context, thats what I'm trying to say.

Like i said being the best of 8 teams is hardly grounds for greatest ever.
 
If were talking domination, you could put up the Brisbane Lions as the greatest sporting team. Who were more dominant against more teams and much fiercer competition than the Australian cricket team are up against. Just a thought.
 

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BunjiMac said:
If were talking domination, you could put up the Brisbane Lions as the greatest sporting team. Who were more dominant against more teams and much fiercer competition than the Australian cricket team are up against. Just a thought.
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Hmmm..... (where's the shakes head emoticon) just who did the Brisbane Lions play on an international level.

As for the Dream Team comment, are you honestly saying a team who came together for 1 Olympics is as good as a team who has dominated their chosen sport on international level for the best part of decade.

When I mentioned the US basketball team I though they dominated for years not just one competition - sheesh they're not even in the same ball park as the Aussie cricket team.

Is cricket as weaker as some say or is it more a case of the Aussies being miles and miles ahead of everyone else. I think its abit of both but more so the Aussies are just a damn sight better than their competitiors. Were Frazier and Foreman boxing bums or was it more a case of Ali being on another level?
 
BunjiMac said:
Dominating is pointless if the cometition is not up to scratch, doesnt matter if its for 10 years.

If you just interested in longest winning streaks then thats a different story, but you cannot say a team is the greatest just because they have dominated for a while, you have to see things in context, thats what I'm trying to say.

Like i said being the best of 8 teams is hardly grounds for greatest ever.[/QUOTE]

Yet a team who dominated just one competition is.
Click to expand...
 
I think if you really saw things in context and appreciated sports, you could easily see that the Dream Team as a sporting team, or a number of Brazillian National Soccer teams were far greater teams than the current Australian Cricket Team.

Its kinda like comparing the a team that dominates the local division D football competition for the last few years with only 8 teams against say Geelong the Premiers.

It was like when Hewitt was the number 1 tennis player everyone knew he was doing alright, but those that could see it in context also knew the reason was there was noone else around at the time. Then everyone started improving and along came federer, Safin, Rodick etc etc and the rest is history.

Quality and depth of competiton is everything, and unfortunately the quality and depth is lacking in this era of cricket. How many truly great players are left. Warne, McGrath the Waughs are gone, Lara is virtually finished (or is he already), Tendulker (past his best), No Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, in fact no great bowlers outside of Australia??

How can a team that dominates in this era be considered great?

Cricket in my opinion is on the way down due to various reasons. Cricket is not the number one sport in any of the cricketing nations except India and all the athletes are being drawn to other sports. Cricket is no where near as exciting to watch as it was in the late 80's or early 90's. For me thats purely about the depth of competition.

Cmon SpringChoke, "Greatest Sporting Team of all time???" at least change your title to most dominant sporting team of all time. That i can stomach
 
SpringChoke said:
just who did the Brisbane Lions play on an international level.
Click to expand...

The Lions never played on the international level, but who can honestly say that the level of competion in international cricket, is even comparable to the AFL. Even though it is a local competition the AFL is athletically superior on every level IMHO, and the eveness and competitiveness of the competiton makes internationl cricket look like a joke.
 
Agree with most of waht you are saying....However this team has been this good since about 1996. Many say we took the mantle when we won in the Windies with Taylor at the helm. That is at least a decade at the top, in a competition that plays most of each year, not just once every four years. Not too many teams can claim that.

It also comes down to perspective. The US dont play cricket neither do most of Europe (at a high level) or SOuth East Asia, Most of Africa or the Americas. So in these regions it means nothing



I bet Ricky Poning could score a free throw, jump shot or lay up, but Michael Jordan could not hit a cover drive.:p
 

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