Australia’s days of cricket domination are over. Out the door along with the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist.
The simultaneous departure of some of Australia’s greatest ever competitors has devastated the entire cricketing country. Facing the prospect of replacing these players was always going to be a formidable task, if not an impossible one. Personally, I, like many others, have grown up in a world where an Australian victory was a mere formality. Only recently have we started learning to truly appreciate having to battle for a win.
It’s easy to rate the new crop of Aussies harshly, as it is natural to compare them to past superstars. But the question remains; are they good enough to lift our beloved side back to the top? The jury is most certainly still out.
Everywhere you look in the Test squad there is uncertainty. The opening pair of Katich and Watson are pretty set, but the middle order is proving to become unstable. Other than the reliable Michael Clarke, there is an assembly of aging stars. Skipper Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Marcus North are all on the wrong side of 30. Not to mention none of which are in particularly good form.
Australia’s bowling stocks are an interesting prospect, nobody game to try and predict which fast bowlers will play in the first test, starting 25 November at the Gabba. One thing that is guaranteed is, they will come out with a vengeance, each of them trying to impress the coaching staff and selectors.
Mitchell Johnson has swiftly found himself as the Aussies most experienced bowler, thus far taking on the responsibility brilliantly, barring the spearhead’s concentration lapse in last years Ashes series. They will need him to fire up this time around, and take the important top order scalps required of him.
Ponting himself has publicly conceded that a series loss on home soil, could possibly cost him his cherished position as Australian captain. In a sentence, defeat is not acceptable.
This side no doubt has the talent and the will to win, whether they can get all of the pieces of the puzzle to fit together is yet to be seen.
One thing on Australia’s side is the demons that surely still linger with the Englishmen, after their embarrassing 5-0 defeat last time they were in town in 2006/07. There is no doubt that sledging and mind games will be a big feature from both sides.
I am very excited for this series, as the Australian side has an amazing opportunity to show the world that they are still a force to be reckoned with. It will require courage, mental strength and willpower. All of which are brilliant characteristics, so often displayed by our hometown sporting heroes. We know that “Punter” and his men will not take a backwards step, on or off the field. So come late November, it’s on!
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
With Rajasthan needing 25 off 17, both batsmen ended up at the same end but the bowler dropped the throw from his teammate -…
A six-laden, 27-ball 84 from Jake Fraser-McGurk to continue his outrageous debut IPL!
Johnny Bairstow has hit his way back into form with a 45-ball century as he steered his side to a record-breaking win, easily chasing…
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
