Competitive Test cricket in Australia- what happened to it?

[westozfalcon]

The Australian Test cricket team is a machine…ruthlessly riding roughshod over every challenger.

We were sold a pup by the media last year about England. Massive crowds flocked in expecting competitive cricket but what unfolded – a mismatch! Twelve months onwards and it’s more of the same.

It was more fun in the 1980’s when we had good cricketers, but they they had a degree of fallibility. Batsmen like Andrew Hilditch, Dirk Wellham, ‘Mahatma Cote’, Greg Matthews, Wayne Phillips, and Robbie Kerr were good players but they were always a chance to get out. It was just more exciting because in a match you could expect the pendulum to swing any moment.

Obviously Australia has raised the bar and you can’t blame them for that but other nations have failed to keep pace with their obsessive approach to bettering themselves. Another reason, in my opinion, is that there are not enough good bowlers around the world right now.

There is no way Australia would score 500 + against bowlers like Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Abdul Qadir, Malcom Marshall, Bob Willis and Graham Dilley if they could be pitted at their peak against the current-day Aussies.

Do you remember that spell of bowling that Hadlee produced in 1985 at the GABBA to take 9-52 against the Aussies? That was scintillating stuff. Hayden, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Symonds and Gilchrist would have had no answer to that superb display of seam bowling.

[GWW]

I certainly MUCH prefer it now with us dominating, than i do in the mid 80's when we were being thrashed by the minnows (ie NZ). If the Aussies were struggling, everyone would be on here complaining like we do about the Redbacks (and justifiably too as far as the Redbacks are concerned).

Its not Australia's fault the other countries can't keep up.

[youngster]

I'm with you GWW, it is not up to us to lower our standards... it is up to the rest of the world to match or better what we have to offer.

I love watching the Australian team, they play positive, exciting cricket with good bowling batting and fielding. Similar to the Windies team that dominated the world from 76 to losing their crown in 1995. Long may we reign...

[am Bays]

There is no way Australia would score 500 + against bowlers like Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Abdul Qadir, Malcom Marshall, Bob Willis and Graham Dilley if they could be pitted at their peak against the current-day Aussies.

Do you remember that spell of bowling that Hadlee produced in 1985 at the GABBA to take 9-52 against the Aussies? That was scintillating stuff. Hayden, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Symonds and Gilchrist would have had no answer to that superb display of seam bowling.

Don't think we'd make 5-550 everytime we batted but at the same time we wouldn't be skittled for 250 -300 like we were back then. As I've said in other threads I'd back this side to be more than competitive agaisnt teh geat sides of the 80s.

[Rik E Boy]

Yeah, it was much more fun losing back to back Ashes series, watching that idiot Chris Broad bat for two days not playing a shot, then losing to the Kiwis and getting thrashed by the Windies EVERY time. Westozfalcon...you are a dill! Being a South fan, surely you get your fill of losing during Winter.

regards,

REB

[rod_rooster]

There is no way Australia would score 500 + against bowlers like Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Abdul Qadir, Malcom Marshall, Bob Willis and Graham Dilley if they could be pitted at their peak against the current-day Aussies.

You mention some great bowlers and then randomly throw Grahan Dilley into the picture

[Dogwatcher]

C'mon - he had onneeeee good summer!

[Mr66]

The '80s were more competitive when Holding,Marshall,Garner,Croft and co. were
bouncing everybody out?

[mal]

When Brett Lee starts tiring we might stuggle to bowl teams out
I think the dominace will be here at home
On the road we will definitely struggle to bowl teams out as we used to.

[locky801]

When Brett Lee starts tiring we might stuggle to bowl teams out
I think the dominace will be here at home
On the road we will definitely struggle to bowl teams out as we used to.

This test aint all over by a long shot, waiting to see the stumps score, reckon I will be running off to a bookie first thing tomorrow

[mal]

If the Indians get past the new ball in the AU V IN series hmnnnnnnn.

[redden whites]

There is no way Australia would score 500 + against bowlers like Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Abdul Qadir, Malcom Marshall, Bob Willis and Graham Dilley if they could be pitted at their peak against the current-day Aussies.

You mention some great bowlers and then randomly throw Grahan Dilley into the picture

Are we playing spot the odd one out??? Graham Dilley

[GWW]

I think in his early days Graham Dilley was a quality bowler, i just dont think he sustained it for his whole career.

[rod_rooster]

There is no way Australia would score 500 + against bowlers like Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Abdul Qadir, Malcom Marshall, Bob Willis and Graham Dilley if they could be pitted at their peak against the current-day Aussies.

You mention some great bowlers and then randomly throw Grahan Dilley into the picture

Are we playing spot the odd one out??? Graham Dilley

Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Abdul Qadir, Malcom Marshall, Bob Willis and Graham Dilley

One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just isn't the same

[locky801]

Graham DILLEY is only remembered for one thing, thats when he was bowling and he got Dennis Lillee caught out by Peter Willey, a commentators dream

[Dogwatcher]

Oh noooo - I remember Dilley for his blonde, curly mullet. A true treat of the genre.