Saturday 8 March 2008

Age-Old Australians at Brink of losing Top ODI Spot

So the recent CB Series loss against the Indians was more than just a loss. Being beaten by the latest rivals in more ways than one in a best-of-3 finals. At their own home, just to add. The question floating around the cricket world is that have the Aussies finally started to go downhill?

Aussies are at the brink of losing their Best ODI team in the world status to South Africa who's task at hand is to clean-sweep the Bangladesh team which shouldn't be too hard to do. We should be able to see South Africa finally make it to the top after a long struggle. Lets hope they get there.

But the questions being asked are only natural as well. I read something on age being a problem for Aussies with the average age being 32. I think thats been the average age for them since the last 12 years and they have won world cups with the same. So, that is something that shouldn't really be questioned. I mean would they have performed better with younger players in the team? I don't think so.

Ponting and Symonds are by the far better than many youngsters around and its only because they couldn't fire on the day of the finals was the issue. Its difficult to pin-point anybody based on a single series defeat but the high standards that the Aussies set, leads the media to do the same. This leads to questions asked on every loss. Its almost like they are inhuman and everybody expects them to win every day. There is no doubt that they have been tested in the recent past and its not easy to be the best for so long.

I don't think there is any lack of talent, or strategy or leadership or age for that matter. Its just that they are now getting a little more human. They have had an unbelievable run and its only because of some very high standards in all facets of the game. I don't think its they who have got down on the standards. Its more about the other teams who have brought their standards up and while doing that, I think they have been able to beat them also.

Its a good phase in cricket history and the top place is up for grabs. I can see South Africa, Sri Lanka and even India in many ways closing in on the top.