England in Australia

[puddleduck]

Cook doesn't seem in the Lara-Sachin class. More like the Inzy-Dravid-Kallis class. Great, but not legendary.
Too bad for Hussey though. had he debuted a decade ago, he's be in the same breath as Sachin and Lara, and would be the rightful Next Bradman.

I don't know if he would though, he has himself admitted that it was only in the last few years that he feels his approach to the game has been spot on, and I think one of the keys to him currently averaging so high and adapting to test cricket so quickly is that he was able to come into test cricket with masses of experience scoring runs in England, Australia and on ODI cricket. His average would be slightly different if he had to have learnt his limitations and strenghts in the test arena.

Whilst I think Hussey is a top player, one of the finest batsman in the world at the moment, I would like to see him score quite as heavily and consistently on pitches where he can't leave the ball quite so freely. We saw Clarke come unstuck a few times in England when leaving the ball wasn't possible on length alone and that is one of Husseys major strengths. No reason why he won't succeed of course, but that for me is the only area he still has something to prove. That and perhaps a long session facing Murali!

Also Zorax, you might class the likes of Dravid, Inzy, and Kallis on a lower tier, and in terms of entertainment and perhaps natural ability yes perhaps they are. To me however they are match winners and at the top of their game, to say I will be delighted if Cook finishes his career ranked alongside them is an understatement. You also might want to stick Ponting alongside Sachin and Lara, although he will play on for a bit longer yet.

 

[aussie1st]

Cook's definitely a talented player, if he will get there with the greats time will tell. Could be breaking some records in the future given he already has 4 test 100s at the age of 21.
A few weaknesses that have been spotted by Australia which he needs to fix, what will be interesting is seeing if he goes into one of those form slumps and gets dropped like Clarke and Hamish Marshall were.

 

[::SolidSnake::]

lol I take back the Giles comment I got a bit annoyed and angry because of our poor performance

 

[puddleduck]

lol I take back the Giles comment I got a bit annoyed and angry because of our poor performance

Not to drag the issue out any longer than it needs to be, but why are you laughing? You've basically just called someone who has gone home to be with his wife who has a brain tumor a loser for doing so. I would hope you spend the rest of the day feeling pretty low about yourself and not Englands performance.

 

[::SolidSnake::]

Oh wait I thought he went home because he was sent home not because of his wife if I had known that then would definatly not have laughed.

I honestly thought it was because they didnt need him or somthing like that!

 

[genghis_khan]

Was a great feeling when i rushed home from work just in time to see Warne rearrange Monty's furniture.
Great for this group of players to win back the ashes one last time before the exodus begins.
Despite McGraths efforts late yesterday and throughout the series i believe he should retire after this series, and one of Langer or Hayden, not both if we can avoid it...we wont want more than 3 (including Martyn) leaving at the same time.

 

[aussie1st]

Was a great feeling when i rushed home from work just in time to see Warne rearrange Monty's furniture.
Great for this group of players to win back the ashes one last time before the exodus begins.
Despite McGraths efforts late yesterday and throughout the series i believe he should retire after this series, and one of Langer or Hayden, not both if we can avoid it...we wont want more than 3 (including Martyn) leaving at the same time.

Well our next series is 11 months away so I think McGrath would be calling it a day after this Ashes series. We should be alright if we do lose both Langer and Hayden as Rogers and Jaques are ready made replacements assuming Jaques gets out of his form slump.

 

[irottev]

It will defiantly be interesting to see who retires at the end of the series. There will be at least one or two. Pretty sad really. Players retiring is very sad always. I mean, Langer, Hayden, McGrath, they're ledgends. All three. All have made the record books many times. It has to happen some day though

What I can't understand right now at all and I am sure none of you know why either, but why didn't Martyn wait a week and play this test and get his hands on that urn first? I mean who wouldn't? Why not stick to the end of the series?

 

[puddleduck]

It will defiantly be interesting to see who retires at the end of the series. There will be at least one or two. Pretty sad really. Players retiring is very sad always.

What I can't understand right now at all and I am sure none of you know why either, but why didn't Martyn wait a week and play this test and get his hands on that urn first? I mean who wouldn't? Why not stick to the end of the series?

Because he's an Aussie, and sentimentality doesn't play a part in their thinking. If he had decided that he was just there for the ride, then he made the correct and brave decision that someone else would provide more to the team, and that was what counted at the end of the day.

 

[::SolidSnake::]

Mhhh maybe because he might not have been selected for this match?

 

[irottev]

Apparantly he was told he was going to be selected beforehand.

 

[aussie1st]

Martyn was definitely selected for this test, he stated he had lost his passion for the game and felt wrong to carry on carelessly chucking his wicket away. Very brave move by him, I definitely thought he would have fighted it out or at the very least play this match but his fire was almost gone.

 

[mattfb]

I think we will still be a strong side after players retire but do you guyz think we will be as strong as we are now when Haydos and Langer and the others departe?

 

[aussie1st]

Obviously we won't be as strong, batting will be our strong point for me with Ponting, Hussey and Clarke as our 3-5. Jaques and Rogers also been heavy run scorers in the domestic comp. Bowling is what I'm worried about as you would when you lose a legend like McGrath. I expect Warne to go to the next Ashes so we don't have to worry about our spinners just yet.

 

[puddleduck]

I think we will still be a strong side after players retire but do you guyz think we will be as strong as we are now when Haydos and Langer and the others departe?

Almost certainly not, I think Australia will certainly still be one of the top sides in the world, but you can't just replace two of the greatest bowlers ever in cricket immediately. The conditions that their domestic cricketers play in means there is almost certainly going to be a long array of talented batsman, but trying to replace two bowlers who have almost 1200 test wickets between them, and have been the go-to men for every captain in their respective careers will be tough. In fact the whole balance of the Aussie side may have to change. A wicket keeper batsman that consistently averages close to 50, and two of the finest bowlers of their generation, and indeed in history won't be replaced overnight.

You'll also have to look at replacing a very reliable opening partnership that will take time to develop an understanding, and the experience that these players possess in terms of winning games from almost any position will be lost. Still, Australia will be a good side, but whether they will be a great side, and dominate by quite so much is certainly debateable.