The changing of the guard.

[PumpyChowdown]

This is the most important series since we beat the Windies in the West Indies in 1995 which signaled the demise of the once invincible Windies, and ushered in Australia as the new Kings of cricket.

This series feels very similar. The giants of the Australian team are nearly all gone. S. Waugh, S. Warne, G. D. McGrath, A. Gilchist. No more. Punter is a gun, but he lacks the authority of previous legends.

By contrast, India have M. S. Dhoni, I. Sharma, H. Singh and their unbelievably impressive leggie debutant A. Mishra and a seemingly endless pool of talent waiting to be elevated when veterans such as Ganguly, Dravid, Kumble and Tendulkar retire. We have no such luxury.

The torch is being passed.

 

[THRILLHO]

Hmm, I wouldnt think so. India have always been a completely different side at home. India has always been known as the final frontier. For mine, it's a pretty exciting time for Australian cricket, the legends of the game have moved on and it's time for new talent to step up.

Even if it is time to pass the torch, we've had one hell of a run. Three world cups, absolute domination in Test cricket, three of the best players to have ever played in their respective positions (Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath, with McGrath being the only one where you can mount a claim that he wasnt the best of his trade). The Australian summer is going to be great, though.

 

[aaronm46]

i disagree but respect your opinion

 

[Grimwood]

seemingly endless pool of talent waiting to be elevated when veterans such as Ganguly, Dravid, Kumble and Tendulkar retire.

India will lose four of their current top six over the next year or two. You don't replace guys like that overnight.

We have no such luxury.

Sell your Baggy Greens! It's over!

 

[PumpyChowdown]

India will lose four of their current top six over the next year or two. You don't replace guys like that overnight.

The already have Gambhir. If Yuvraj Singh can show his sublime talent at Test level (which I think he can do) there's another one. Beyond that there are many young guns waiting in the wings.

Who are the Aussies?

Sell your Baggy Greens! It's over!

I will NEVER sell my Baggy Green. I am however, a realist. We have had a great run, and I reckon we'll struggle for a few years. It's the cricket recession we had to have!

 

[DaRick]

This is the most important series since we beat the Windies in the West Indies in 1995 which signaled the demise of the once invincible Windies, and ushered in Australia as the new Kings of cricket.

This series feels very similar. The giants of the Australian team are nearly all gone. S. Waugh, S. Warne, G. D. McGrath, A. Gilchist. No more. Punter is a gun, but he lacks the authority of previous legends.

By contrast, India have M. S. Dhoni, I. Sharma, H. Singh and their unbelievably impressive leggie debutant A. Mishra and a seemingly endless pool of talent waiting to be elevated when veterans such as Ganguly, Dravid, Kumble and Tendulkar retire. We have no such luxury.

The torch is being passed.

I have my doubts and so do many knowledgable Indian cricket fans. You need more than pure talent to be #1. If we judge sides on pure talent, then India would've been persistently at #2, with occassional spells at #1. It hasn't really happened like that, though, despite this Australian team's current spineless collapse. Besides, while Ganguly and Laxman (you forgot him) can be replaced, Tendulkar and Dravid will be far more difficult propositions. It is possible that Kumble has a good replacement already, but I'm not willing to say that Mishra will be equal or better and that's taking into account Kumble's mediocre overseas record. At any rate, these five players are all quality. Having them retire in short intervals will hurt.

Besides, Australian cricket is in a far different position to the West Indian team of 1995. Our batting stocks, despite their ineptitude during this Test match, are notably better than theirs (Adams, even at that stage, was on the way down and Richie Richardson was nearly on Retirement Drive). I also don't need to point out that our first-class cricket is of an infinitely higher standard than theirs, even if our bowling stocks are more modestly endowed than theirs were. The WICB didn't have a cricketing academy in place, either, which didn't bode well for the future.

 

[DaRick]

The already have Gambhir. If Yuvraj Singh can show his sublime talent at Test level (which I think he can do) there's another one. Beyond that there are many young guns waiting in the wings.

That's quite a big IF, in the case of Yuvraj, given his past inconsistencies. I'm also not 100% convinced of Gambhir just yet. Besides, the young guns can't be expected to automatically replace quality batsmen like Laxman and Ganguly and especially legends like Tendulkar and Dravid. That may apply to Kumble, too. It is likely that India will experience a rough trot in Test matches soon.

 

[Cousin Jed]

The already have Gambhir. If Yuvraj Singh can show his sublime talent at Test level (which I think he can do) there's another one. Beyond that there are many young guns waiting in the wings.

Yuvraj? Ha.

Changing of the guard? I doubt it.

 

[Santana]

Sorry, but their batting order is way too old for talk like this.

 

[Bomber Bears]

When your middle order has dravid tendaulker and ganguly, or just about done, you arent ready to accept the torch. They could just as easily lose it.

Historically, you have to beat the current champion country on their home soil before you can claim the mantle, somehting that hasnt happened in Australia since 93/93 i think.

 

[Dude Lebowski]

Your forgetting that Australia could of/should of won the 1st Test had it not been for lost time and bad light. Even so, they pretty much controlled the whole game.

As THRILLHO pointed out, India are a different beast at home. Even during our 20 year reign on top, we only managed to beat them there for the first time in a long time, last series. Not sure of the records, but we've been there with champion teams and come home empty handed.

Our bowling does a look a worry atm though. Lee doesn't look interested, Johnson whilst he takes wickets, bowls a lot of crap and none of them swing the ball at all. They all rely on bouncy wickets with variation in bounce and seam. Without looking too far ahead, they definitely have to get Hilf and maybe Tait in before the Ashes. Swing was the key last series and without the line and length of McGrath, we need some sort of advantage without any spin options.

 

[Grimwood]

The already have Gambhir. If Yuvraj Singh can show his sublime talent at Test level (which I think he can do) there's another one. Beyond that there are many young guns waiting in the wings.

Who are the Aussies?

Jaques
Rogers
Marsh
Clarke
Dussey
Pomersbach
Watson
Haddin
Siddle
Johnson
Bollinger
Tait
Hilfenhaus

It's not Ponting, Waugh, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne, but what is?

 

[THRILLHO]

It's not Ponting, Waugh, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne, but what is?

While Ponting was earmarked as an extremely good player from the age of sixteen, Warne and McGrath came from relative obscurity and Gilchrist had to go to the other side of Australia just to get a gig in Shield cricket.

There could be another champion cricketer in that list somewhere, we just wont know for awhile yet.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Everytime we lost a Test match...

 

[DIG]

This is the most important series since we beat the Windies in the West Indies in 1995 which signaled the demise of the once invincible Windies, and ushered in Australia as the new Kings of cricket.

This series feels very similar. The giants of the Australian team are nearly all gone. S. Waugh, S. Warne, G. D. McGrath, A. Gilchist. No more. Punter is a gun, but he lacks the authority of previous legends.

By contrast, India have M. S. Dhoni, I. Sharma, H. Singh and their unbelievably impressive leggie debutant A. Mishra and a seemingly endless pool of talent waiting to be elevated when veterans such as Ganguly, Dravid, Kumble and Tendulkar retire. We have no such luxury.

The torch is being passed.

I know it feels like this because it's an absolute drubbing....

But to be fair, comparing it to the Windies tour of '95 - wouldn't they need to come here and knock Australia off in Australia? I don't think any team's won a series here since the Windies of about '93.

India look strong atm and their next challenge is to start dominating overseas - otherwise they'll just be bullies in their own country.

 

[Bennycoff]

I don't think so. As impressive as India has been, one test match doesn't make a destiny. You have to remember what Australia has achieved. We've smashed a lot of sides for a very long period of time.
When India start winning away series consistently...maybe then they deserve more international recognition until then they will always be the sleepin giant.

 

[smoovy]

Depnds on how many young batsman come through. But they have the most important thing and that is an attack that can take 20 wickets. They've always had good spinners, but now they have a pace attack that can win anywhere. The are probably one quality 3rd seamer short at this stage though.

 

[davey_magik]

Disagree.

We won't lose a Test series at home for a long time yet. We just won't win away as much as we once did.

 

[Bennycoff]

South Africa may have a say in that.

 

[aaronm46]

south africa with the execption of Steyn, arent very good

 

[Grimwood]

south africa with the execption of Steyn, arent very good

Drew 1-1 with India not far back.

Their bowling was pretty poor against England though, which shows how awful England's batsmen were.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

There are still 2 tests left.

I woulnt right us off just yet.

Reminds me of Oasis being written off but coming back with a vengenace time and time again.

 

[CarnCrows]

While all congrats to India for this test (and most likely the series), I dont think it will last long until either a) Australia get back up or b) India fall back down.

They play some very good cricket against Australia and some damn ordinary cricket against other teams. This inconsistency will mean they will never live up to their potential (plus the retirement of the middle order).

 

[SOSBenny]

Everytime we lost a Test match...

yep, it's pretty obvious it doesn't happen all that often, isn't it

 

[Donkeyman]

re: thread title -- can we change the fecking thing already?