SA Footy

are we the worlds best test team anymore?

be honest...

and why...

We'll still be up there, but won't dominate like we did. No team will again in history IMO. Time to get Warney back. I still haven't got over him retiring. He's still my sporting hero of all time (even above Ablett Jnr and Snr).

Bum Crack wrote:We'll still be up there, but won't dominate like we did. No team will again in history IMO. Time to get Warney back. I still haven't got over him retiring. He's still my sporting hero of all time (even above Ablett Jnr and Snr).

he would still be better then our spinners now

We are not clearly the best but no side is. In the past we have been clearly the best in both forms of the game but right now it's more even. We are as good as anyone though and it's a matter of who is better on the day or days when we play the better countries.

Why is the poll question diametric to the thread title question? Now my poll answer is wrong and I can never get it back

Clearly I'm going to lose sleep over this


Yes, our reign is over. No, we are not the best in the world.

Our reign is over.

We won't rise again with Ponting in the side. Ponting is not the champion player he was and despite everything he has achieved his time has come. North isn't good enough and we probably need a genuine opener to open the innings and give Watto a chance in the middle order, perhaps even at three where hopefully the new ball has been worn a little by the opening pair so he is less vulnerable to the swinging ball.

Hussey should remain but only if Ponting goes. Replacing both at once could lead us to a sustained period of struggle a la 1980's. I believe it is Ponting who should go. There is no way this guy should be captain when we next to go England. He has had two shots and failed at that. The Ashes this year should be his farewell series and the Pup era should start in 2011.

Bowling wise we look OK. Our spin options will remain an issue but hopefully Smith can kick on now that he has been given his opportunity. Let's hope we decide to stick with him rather than persist with the revolving door of slow options, particularly with a young talent. Let him bowl and develop some confidence. Let's get Warnie to teach Smith - Warnie has the best cricket brain ever IMO and should be utilised in our time of need.

For me our side should be

Katich
Hughes another chance
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Khajawa/Ferguson
Haddin/Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

12th Khajawa/Ferguson

With an eye to replacing Haddin and Hussey by 2012. I've got no time for North especially after last night's meek capitulation to a part timer.

regards,

REB

I agree Ponting should retire after this summer's Ashes series. No way can we afford to carry him to the next Ashes tour in mid-2013. At his peak his average was above 60 but is now down to 54 and falling at a rate of knots the last couple of years ala Hayden who also hung around too long.

I'm not sold on Smith yet and like a couple of the Fox guys have said think Hauritz deserves to come back in when he recovers from his injury.

As long as Johnson's in the side, yes.

stupid topic, one bad innings and this pops up, how quickly last summer is forgotten and even last week when we gave them a hiding, wouyld not be surprised if we get up from here

Of course it is. Nothing to do with one bad innings.

We got beaten at home in a Test series two summers back. We lost to the Poms. We lost to the Indians. The Pakkies should have towelled us in a home Test earlier in the year, but for some reason gave it back. In what way could that be considered reigning over Test Match cricket?

Australia is still highly competent, brilliant on its day, aggressive and a good team to watch, but our "reign" stopped as soon as Warne and McGrath retired in reality.

Just out of curiosity since the last Ashes series here (2006/07 def England 5-0) when Warne, McGrath, Langer & Martyn all retired here are our Test series results since:

2007

def Sri Lanka 2-0 in Australia

2007/08

def India 2-1 (1 draw) in Australia

2008

def West Indies 2-0 (1 draw) in West Indies
lost to India 2-0 (2 draws) in India
def New Zealand 2-0 in Australia

2008/09

lost to South Africa 2-1 in Australia

2009

def South Africa 2-1 in South Africa
lost to England 2-1 (2 draws) in England
def West Indies 2-0 (1 draw) in Australia

2009/10

def Pakistan 3-0 in Australia

2010

def New Zealand 2-0 in New Zealand
*currently lead Pakistan 1-0 in England

I do not believe we need to worry, although we are no longer top.

When sides like PAK, NZ, SRL, ENG reach their peaks, they can compete, but when they have their lows, WI and BANG can compete with them.

WI went from amazing high's (80's) to an unbelievable low (through to NOW).

When AUS is up and about, no-one can touch us- even still. When AUS have their lows, they still can compete with other sides, which is the difference...

Cannot be number 1 forever.

unknown source wrote:are we the worlds best test team anymore?

be honest...

and why...

Nah where not. South Africa and India have taken over.

daysofourlives wrote:stupid topic, one bad innings and this pops up, how quickly last summer is forgotten and even last week when we gave them a hiding, wouyld not be surprised if we get up from here

so are we still the best then, can we string 15 wins in a row like we used to

daysofourlives wrote:stupid topic, one bad innings and this pops up, how quickly last summer is forgotten and even last week when we gave them a hiding, wouyld not be surprised if we get up from here

One bad innings? It's pretty obvious that this is far from a stupid topic, in fact it is a pertinent one. It's pretty obvious to most observers of the game that the quality of our cricket has diminished significantly since the Ashes clean sweep of 2007.

We are still winning tests but we are really having to grind out our wins now and the dominant matches are starting to come a lot less frequently.

regards,

REB

We are still capable of playing cricket that made us the best in past years.
The problem is we cant sustain it for more then a game or 2 at a time.

I think we work with Smith and mould him into another warnie, or try to make him as good as.

Australia haven't been the best side in the world for some time imho

Iron Fist wrote:We are still capable of playing cricket that made us the best in past years.
The problem is we cant sustain it for more then a game or 2 at a time.

I think we work with Smith and mould him into another warnie, or try to make him as good as.

There will never be another Warnie.

Sam_goUUUdogs wrote:Australia haven't been the best side in the world for some time imho

spot on sam, warne, mcgrath, gilchrist, hayden, langer, the waughs and to a lesser degree martyn, you dont replace players of that calibre overnight, we were very spoilt over a 15 year period

Martyn was definitely a lesser light in the dominant Aus side, but would have been the best player if his time was now...