If you had to look at dynasties…
The 1970’s West Indies team
The 1999-Present Australian Team
The 1990’s South African Team
I personally think that the current Australian Team with most of its core players intact since 1999 is the most devastating team ever…
Re: Is the current Australian team the best ever?
This Australian team is great but the Windies team of the 70s and 80s was better. They were simply devastating and had in their ranks a pace quartet of the highest class - Holding, Roberts, Garner and Malcolm Marshall - and a batsman of the calibre of Viv Richards, arguably the most destructive and devastating batsman of them all. Ask Imran Khan and Ian Botham for instance. This Aussie side is probably mentally tougher than that Windies outfit, they are very clinical, ruthless and professional in their approach but they don't strike the same fear in the hearts of their opponents that Windies side did. Viv Richards never wore a helmet while batting. He literally 'took on the world in a cap.' The best of the best were frightened to bowl to him.
Last but not the least you can't mention the South African side of the 90s in the same breath as the Aussies of the late 90s and Windies of late 70s and 80s. There is no comparison. The South Africans were never as ruthless as these two sides.
These two teams have dominated the Test and one-day arena for the best part of the last three decades. And Australia has just gone 27 games at the World Cup without defeat and is currently on track to make it three WC triumphs in a row and four overall.
Re: Is the current Australian team the best ever?
As much respect as I have for the Windies of 70's-80's, I'd agree with merc.... this Australian team is just out of this world. People wrote them off after Ashes, they wrote them off again after they lost 6 in a row early this year, but, man, have they come back. The most amazing thing about this Aussie team is that it doesn't let up. Even when the opponent is lying wounded and down; they will stomp on it again and again in the most brutal fashion. They just don't release pressure from the pedal. Its almost painful to watch them cruelly snub other teams and kick them in the guts repeatedly.
Without Bevan, without Warne, without Waughs... the juggernaut just rolls on. I have no doubt that this team will continue to steamroll teams even when McGrath leaves. What happens after Ponting leaves is something we'll all look forward to.
By the way, due to the very nature of ODI's, its entirely possible that Aussies can be upset on any given day, and may not win the World Cup after all. But based on what I have seen so far in this tournament; Aussies are by far the best team out there. Three cheers for them. : salute :