SA Footy

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stan wrote:Trav needs to calm down, we don't need to get rhe runs tonight.

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In all seriousness what would this playing groups ‘claim to fame’ be amongst the other great sides

The Taylor era had the historic West Indies victory
The Steve Waugh side had the series win in India

Not sure the Smith/Cummins era has has had a moment in test cricket where we think they significantly overachieved.

I’m not saying they aren’t the number one side but let’s be real if it was the 90’s India would have a claim to the title given the last two home and away series. We all know if the neutral test was played in Dubai or Sri Lanka, India probably would have won.

Also don’t recall an Australian team drawing a home series against such a low ranked side in my lifetime. Iirc there was a drawn series with NZ in the mid 2000’s but don’t think that compares.

The fact is they haven’t conquered the next best team home or away in India. They haven’t conquered an average arch enemy side on their soil England. They failed and embarrassed the nation in South Africa. They have had a few slip ups at home, 2 x lost series to India and drawn series with West Indies.

For one, I don't think you should gel the Smith and Cummins eras in as one. Smith's era was a disaster. Australian cricket was resurrected under Paine. Cummins took on a good team and made it better.

Getting to, and winning the WTC Final, when they had a series of away Test series in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India was significant. Then immediately following that, winning the first two Ashes Tests and doing enough to retain The Ashes. Then on the end of that, winning the ODI World Cup as underdogs.

Definitely disappointing not winning in India or winning the series in England.

PS. Steve Waugh never won a series in India. Adam Gilchrist was captain until Ponting came backfire the 4th Test, which Australia lost, but were already up 2-1 after the first three.

FWIW, my summary of the captains I've seen.

- Border had the glory of resurrecting the side, crowned with the 1989 Ashes - he also had the heartbreak of losing the series to the Windies in Aus in 92/93.

- Taylor took a strong side to the top, defeating the West Indies in West Indies in 1995, however, his team couldn't beat India in India, in an era where Indian cricket was starting to become strong

- Waugh made his extraordinarily strong side unbeatable (16 wins in a row) and created a new culture around the baggy green, but he too, couldn't bring his side to win in India, even after being 1-0 up and having the Indians follow on in the 2nd Test....

- Ponting too had 16 wins on the trot, but how could you lose The Ashes in 2005 with that team!? Then some tough times, including another Ashes defeat away in 2009 and the cardinal sin of losing an Ashes series at home in 2010/11. We did finally win in India in 2004 - but Gilchrist was captain.

- Clarke had a difficult time during his reign, especially getting thrashed in India and the time under Micky Arthur, but for a brief period, with Lehmann as coach, brought Australian Cricket back to it's glory on the back of a firebrand style with Johnson and Harris combining career best form in a purple patch, whitewashing England at home and then defeating the very strong South African side away. He guided Australian cricket through the tragedy of Hughes and on the back of that, a brilliant home summer win against the Indians. An away Ashes was to complete the fairy tale - but it wasn't to be, another Ashes loss in England to end Clarke's reign.

- Smith also had difficulty during his reign, tormented by a horrible home summer against South Africa and then sandpaper-gate against South Africa away. Losses to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India away. Some dominance at home against England, New Zealand, West Indies and Pakistan. Unfortunately didn't get a chance to redeem himself as a captain, but certainly did so with the bat.

- Paine guided Australia through a tough period without Smith and Warner. He made his mark by retaining the Ashes in 2019. So close to winning the series, as he was close to defeating India in Australia. He had Australian cricket back on track, then as quickly as he came, he left.

- Cummins, the first fast bowling captain of Australia, has so far done a fine job. Making and winning the WTC Final, retaining the Ashes in England, beating Pakistan in the first series in Pakistan for many years. Without dominating as we did under Taylor, Waugh and the first part of Ponting's reign, he's stood up in big moments. Stands out for his calm approach and the belief he instills in his team mates, without taking a backwards approach against the opposition. Has so far captained an experienced and settled side, but that stands to change over the next few years - the departing Warner the first of a number of veterans that are likely to retire over the next 2-3 years.