I never liked Mcgrath and Warne. In fact hated them as they hold successful records against Pakistan but man they have had amazing careers. Australian team would not have such successes without either of them because they consistently toppled oppositions twice in a match.
Langer’s emotional farewell was very touchy and showed how high he held his baggy green cap and decimated attacks with his partner Hayden. Never a treat to watch but rather a thorn at crease, he said good bye to cricket at the very peak. Hats off.
And the unsung hero Damien Martyn, I just wonder why he left so quietly.
They made this aussie team champions and australians will not be as dominant without them as it was with them. But they left at the highest moment (winning back their dear ashes after a thumping 5-0). A lesson to some subcontinent cricketers who never know when to let go
If you look at it Australia has lost a key figure in each department;
Opening top order - Langer
Middle Order - Martyn
Spin - Warne
Fast - McGrath
Yet, I bet you Australia will remain strong for years to come because of the way they play the game. They are a very proud sporting nation and give in their 100% for the country unlike most others and especially Pakistani cricketers who prioritize personal differences and fake egos over the pride of the country.
I am in total agreement with you on this one. Inzi is a prime example of this. His very presence is becoming a hindrance even nuisance for young talented players like Samiullah Niazi, Jamshed, Anwar Ali and Fawad Alam.
Don't want the thread derailed but this statement is not correct, at least he has brought so much glory to Pakistan unlike some others who find it difficult to rise above their petty egos.
Coming back to the topic Warne and Mcgrath are two giants of the game and will be sadly missed. Whatever we say about the invincibility of the Australian team they will find it very hard to replace such talent and it will show.
This issue is nothing to do with inflated egos and petty issues, rather to do with Inzi's conservativeness who is willing to take dead horses on board but not try new ones.
Langer's emotional farewell was very touchy and showed how high he held his baggy green cap and decimated attacks with his partner Hayden. Never a treat to watch but rather a thorn at crease, he said good bye to cricket at the very peak. Hats off.
And the unsung hero Damien Martyn, I just wonder why he left so quietly.
They made this aussie team champions and australians will not be as dominant without them as it was with them. But they left at the highest moment (winning back their dear ashes after a thumping 5-0). A lesson to some subcontinent cricketers who never know when to let go
Beautifully put!
Hats off to the Ozzies, they have taken cricket to a totally new level which other teams are finding hard to emulate. Warne has immortalized himself, while Mcgrath will be remembered as one of the most consistent bowlers. Langer and Martyn weree also good players and cud still play cricket for another five years, but chose not to. This shows character, confidence and respect of other players. So many strong points, can the Sub-Continent learn just a little bit from these greats? Let us pray..
We can proudly say to our next generation that we have seen Warne n Mcgrath playing. I've exactly same feelings when Botham n Richards were saying bye bye to the cricket.
You are overexaggerating a bit. Yes there is a lesson or two there for guys like SRT and Inzi but Langer 37 could not have gone on till 42. He had a relatively poor series by his high standards. Yes McGrath 36 (turns 37 on 9 February) and Warne 37 could probably still play for another 12-15 months. As for Martyn 35, Australia have found a more than capable replacement in Hussey.
Most test batsmen retire at 38 or 39. Gooch is a modern day exception. He was 41 when he played his last test. Fast bowlers usu. retire at 36 or 37 and good spinners can probably go on till 38 or 39. Imran Khan retired in 1992 at the age of 39 but his bowling was finished by 1989-90 and he could merely justify his place in the team as a batsman cum captain.
I agree ! This vacuum in **O.B.S **areas of Aussie winning squad will require fillers and then harmonization at a rapid pace to retain their killer's instinct.
But one may see an immediate slack in strength as McGrath, Warn, Martyn & Langer were the Match winners one way or the other, and their absence will be felt in coming days.
I might have a clue as to why they choose to retire and this will appear in another thread as soon as more info is available.
[quote=funguy]
If you look at it Australia has lost a key figure in each department;
Opening top order - Langer
Middle Order - Martyn
Spin - Warne
Fast - McGrath
Yet, I bet you Australia will remain strong for years to come because of the way they play the game. They are a very proud sporting nation and give in their 100% for the country unlike most others and especially Pakistani cricketers who prioritize personal differences and fake egos over the pride of the country.
quote]
Definitely a huge event in the modern days cricket world!
Lets see how the cricket horizon looks with an ozzie team without them.
Yet, I bet you Australia will remain strong for years to come because of the way they play the game. They are a very proud sporting nation and give in their 100% for the country unlike most others and especially Pakistani cricketers who prioritize personal differences and fake egos over the pride of the country.
Definitely a huge event in the modern days cricket world!
Lets see how the cricket horizon looks with an ozzie team without them
Since we are having a “resurrect old threads” week, an article was posted in CricInfo’s Reader Inbox. This article is on the fall of Australia and the decline in their world supremacy post Warne-McGrath era (arguably after their competition with India only).
What is your opinion on the current Australian team and if other countries can finally play catch-up?
One can argue that Australia are losing that world supremacy, and I think they have definitely declined. But what has been most impressive about them is their consistency. Teams like India and SA are getting better, but sometimes they lack the consistency, as we saw SA get bowled out under a 100 last week.
Also I believe there is a big difference between catch-up and stay-up, something that Australia has done with great consistency lol.