Just in case you thought that we were withholding comment on South Africa's resounding ODI series finale victory last night, this one's for you!
Even with Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn omitted, the Proteas were just too good for the Australians. And writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Jamie Pandaram sums up the impications:
Oh dear; how sad; never mind! Roll on game one of the Chappell Hadlee series tomorrow night.Whether South Africa are ready for the No.1 cricket ranking is irrelevant, because Australia is no longer on their level, nor India's.
The crown is gone and Australia are languishing behind the other two nations in form and depth. Gone too is the killer instinct and ability to forge back-breaking partnerships when it matters most.
14 comments:
A seismic shift in Cricketing power has occurred in the last couple of years. On and off the pitch.
Am I the only person that has mourned the three way tournie that we have all grown up watching? Despite the excitement of watching skippy get spanked (tempered by my intense but irrational dislike of the saffers) the summer has been flat on the cricket front.
Kiwis will get thumped
I've got mixed thoughts on the demise of the tri-series. I can see where the ACB is coming from (revenue generation), but there's a certain nostalgia remembering watching matches from days gone by between NZ and whoever else was touring, played at near-empty stadia. As for the saffers, you might have to get over your paranoia BB, as we might have a few more of them in the national side in years to come - and the laager-wagon mentality that they bring might not be a bad thing, when one considers some of the mental midgets who have worn a Black Caps shirt.
If we could have the mental hardness with the ability to act with humility and discard the necessity to thank god every time they speak then I am in complete agreement with you.
BB - I'm prepared to cut them a bit of slack in the humility department when they beat the Australians, who aren't exactly backward at coming forward themselves!
BB I agree with INV2 that we need to cut the yarpies some slack at the moment - it was two very convincing series win both test and ODI.
I was very impressed with the two left armers who replaced Ntini and Steyn - they were right on the mark and give SA better bowling depth than any other country. How does Harris get picked ahead of Botha?
I heard smewhere today that if the Aussies beat NZ tomorrow they go back to No 1 for ODI's.
And to think that SA pummelled them in the series while having Neil McKenzie in their side.
Which is a bit like climbing Mt Everest with a speciaal needs kid.
But the look to the heavens every time they score a 50 / take a catch is a huge blot. I'm not sure I could handle an era of this...
I am with Leg break on this, the Christers really give me the shits.
Any body else getting really impatient for 5.30 p.m?
But the look to the heavens every time they score a 50 / take a catch is a huge blot
I seem to recall a few All Blacks looking to the heavens after scoring a try.
tempered by my intense but irrational dislike of the saffers
It must really get up your nose that Pommie cricket has had such a big contribution made to it by South Africans - D'Oliviera, Lamb, Grieg (although I personally would like to disown him), Pietersen, Strauss, Fletcher - and many, many more who have kept their heritage quiet.
The Aussies are at a low ebb, but
in the mid eighties they were too,
when their depth improved they
bounced back strongly. They will
be in the doldrums for a year or two but will be back. Unlike their
rugby which is not a top priority
sport in Australia and which lacks
any depth, cricket being their
national game will pick itself up.
mawm,
You left Matt Prior out of your list for some reason.
BB,
I'm looking forward to 5:30 too. But probably not as much as Ponting
LB - he did not make any significant contribution to English cricket - unless partaking in childish tossing of jelly beans onto the pitch is considered to be a Pommie strength.
MAWM, don't get defensive... Saffers have been the backbone of English cricket for decades. However, Pieterson is a numpty. A gifted batsman that has allowed his genuine briliance with the bat to go to his head. He is the Robbie Williams of cricket. If it were not for the dearth of talent in English batting stocks right now his most recent descent into petulance and spoilt brat behaviour would have seen him dropped. His conduct was a disgrace.
BB - I can assure that my contempt for the English is not irrational.
Well, he Kiwis are certainly off to a good start at Perth - keep it up lads!
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