Phenomenal performance, simply put. There is no other way to describe a captaincy, the effort that it took and the manner in which the team battled it out against the very best. It certainly begs the question, is this the (best) time for “other” teams to step up to the plate, the ones who will be meeting Australia very soon?
Echoing Ravi Shastri’s thoughts which surfaces on the commentary table and CricInfo on regular basis; you have to raise your level of fielding bar in order to meet the world’s best. You cannot go into a match having a limited set of skills, it should be the entire package that you have to bring into the team. Sole focus on batting and bowling does not get you to the top. That is where Australia ‘defines’ cricket. (Bar a dip in recent form) They have put so much concentration on the running and proper dives, straight throws, having a presence of a mind like no other.
Thread focus: Has Australia suffered from a long-term loss, casualties due to [x-factors], or just a plain dip in form? On the other hand, has India raised the bar, not only amongst sub-continent teams but also in front of other teams around the world? Which holds more value, out of these two?
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
I think Indians raised game a little bit..
but I think its the context in which the series was played made the difference
I dont think this Aussie team is as ruthless and capable as the earlier version ( of Mcgrath , Warne , Lee , Gillespie + the current batting) It has managed to do well based on the fear factor and confidence generated by that team..Also please add on to this the fact that a comfortable environment where they used to dictate and overwhelm the opposition into submisson was taken off..
I dont think Aussies played any different from what they have been recently.
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
The umpires went down numerous notches, Ponting became overtly dishonest and as a result the 2nd test was gifted to Aussies, what would have been a Indian victory (we had them struggling at 137/6 in high scoring match and Symmonds was let of by the deaf and blind umpire), thus Aussies " " " got " " " the series.
Hopefully Aussies will start playing cricket in future and ICC will start doing the one usefull responsibility it has ...ie to manage umpiring talent, for a change.
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
i think india definitely raised their game
aussies were made to sweat out there big time, they are so used to dominating and finishing games with 3-4 days
keep in mind that sri lanka just played right before the indians did, and well you know what happened
also agree that they are missing mcgrath and warne and steve waugh and whoever, but also have to keep in mind that this team have won 16 in a row!
I for one, was really impressed by the battle, it was hard fought and evenly matched...i agree that aussies were let off at sydney due to really really poor umpiring and you never know, india could have left australia with a series win
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
Just wait for Pakistan to land in Australia, our batsmen will thrash Aussie bowlers while bowlers will get 'em out under 250… just wait , we already won series against Zim 3-0
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
I am not going to comment on rise of Indian form, but like before I will advise again to read the fine print. When England defeated Australia in Ashes 2005, everyone came out with same line. Australia is not the same again. After Warne, McGrath and others...their form will dip. Well, they won another World Cup, remain undefeated and went on a 16 test wins in a row streak.
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
the last series down under between ind and aus was drawn
india almost managed to win the last test, but australia managed to hang on to save the test and series
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
We Pakistanis take great pride in the fact that Pakistan under Imran Khan was the only team in the eighties that competed well with the then no.1 team in the world (The West Indies) drawing 3 three-test series (two home and one away series) 1-1.
I think it's only fair to say that India is the only team in recent times that has given the mighty Aussies a tough time consistently. England beat Aussies 2-1 in 2005 but the very next series they were white-washed 5-0 in Australia.
Although Australia have been one of the better teams in world cricket since 1993-4 (the decline of WI), 1999 was really the year when they started thrashing every team left right and centre i.e. since humbling Pakistan in the 1999 WC Final. Hence I chose 1999 as my cut-off point.
Pakistan had a very talented team in 1996 (lost 0-1 at home) and 1999 (lost 0-3 in Australia) and could have given Aussies a tough time then but for some reason we always come unstuck against the Aussies.
India have always had a very strong batting line-up (no surprise there) but the most noticeable thing in recent times has been the improvement in their bowling. Although their current attack is not exactly menacing or special but with unity, discipline and hardwork they are doing what no other team has done against Australia recently
INDIA v AUSTRALIA in tests since 1999:
PLAYED 18 WON 5LOST 9, rest drawn
and have won 5 and lost 6 since that whitewash in 1999
white-washed 0-3 in Australia (1999, 3 tests)
Won 2-1 at Home (2001, 3 tests)
Drew 1-1 in Australia (2003-4, 4 tests)
Lost 1-2 at Home (2004, 4 tests)
Lost 1-2 in Australia (2007, 4 tests)
PAKISTAN v AUSTRALIA in tests since 1999: PLAYED 9, LOST 9
white-washed 0-3 in Australia (1999, 3 tests)
white-washed 0-3 at neutral venue (though classed as home series) (2002, 2 in Sharjah, 1 in Colombo)
white-washed 0-3 in Australia (2004, 3 tests)
No other team has won as many tests (5) against Australia recently
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
India's strong showing in Australia since 1999 is also reflected in their strong batting performances. They have the most 400+ scores (5) in Australia. Pakistan's best is their 392 a.o. (2nd innings, 3rd batting) at Bellerive Oval in 1999.
400+ scores in a Test Innings by a visiting team in Australia since 1999
SCORE VENUE COUNTRY INNINGS(1st,2nd) BATTING(1st,2nd,3rd or 4th) TEAM RESULT YEAR
705/7 dec. Sydney INDIA 1st 1st Drawn 2003/4
551/6 dec. Adelaide ENGLAND 1st 1st Lost 2006/7
534 a.o. Perth NZL 1st 1st Drawn 2001
532 a.o. Sydney INDIA 1st 2nd Lost 2007/8
526 a.o. Adelaide INDIA 1st 1st Drawn 2007/8
523 a.o. Adelaide INDIA 1st 2nd WON 2003/4
455 a.o. Bundaberg Rum SLA 1st 2nd Drawn 2004
452/9 dec. Sydney ENGLAND 2nd 3rd WON 2002/3
452 a.o. Sydney SOUTH AFRICA 2nd 3rd Lost 2001/2
451/9 dec. Sydney SOUTH AFRICA 1st 1st Lost 2005/6
410 a.0. Bellerive Oval SLA 2nd 4th/Last Lost 2007
409 a.o. Brisbane INDIA 1st 2nd Drawn 2003/4
405 a.o. Adelaide WI 1st 1st Lost 2005
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
The umpires went down numerous notches, Ponting became overtly dishonest and as a result the 2nd test was gifted to Aussies, what would have been a Indian victory (we had them struggling at 137/6 in high scoring match and Symmonds was let of by the deaf and blind umpire), thus Aussies " " " got " " " the series.
Hopefully Aussies will start playing cricket in future and ICC will start doing the one usefull responsibility it has ...ie to manage umpiring talent, for a change.
stircrasy, ur ranting is becoming a pain now. U have made a point and everybody noticed it, now please move on.
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
India did played very competitive cricket and it was an interesting series to follow. One of very few series that I have followed in which Paksitan was not one of the team
I'll still rate Aussies FAR apart form other teams. How many teams can play this well in the absence of 3 top class players? I mean think of what India will do in the absence of Tendulkar, Laxman and Kumble? Think of what Pakistan will do without Yousuf, Younus and Asif? Think what SL will do without Sangakara, Jayawardene and Murli? These sides can rebuilt but Its going to take looooooooooooong time. Secondly, I have never seen Aussies dropping this many catches ....they were just like England were in 1st test of 2005 !
Re: Australia | India: Dip in form or raising the bar?
Cricket is not only about talent and skills. It is about playing like a unit with respect for each other - enjoying in your teammates' success. Australia plays like a unit. India is getting there. Pakistan team is still fighting over who gets to select the fking team. We are way way behind. We need to broaden our spectrum of thinking and learn to respect and play for a common goal before even thinking of beating Srilanka.
, we already won series against Zim 3-0