The Aussies are an excellent team but they are starting to age in certain areas and are possibly on the downslope…
In terms of openers they always have an abundance of them…with Hayden aging the new guy Jacques looks pretty good…
Their keeping situation isnt particularly impressive…Gilchrist is 35 and Haddin is looking far away from having the impact that Gilchrist has…
McGrath is by and far their best pace bowler and replacing him will be hard…Mitchell Johnson though supposedly is the guy that will take his place and on todays evidence gainst India he looks pretty impressive…
Their main issue of worry though is finding another Shane Warne…he along with Mcgrath has been their matchwinner and replacing him is going to be an arduous task…Macgill was a good bowler but he himself is nearing retirement age…
Their batting has always had depth but their bowling doesnt look so clever…Johnson, Bracken, Lee, Cullen, Hogg, Watson hardly instill the same fear that Mcgrath and Warne do…but knowing the Aussies they’ll probably pull through…
Au Contraire, their 'B' and probably 'C' Team today would be as good as any other international team. They have enough players waiting in the wings to take up the mantle.
On a related note, the English are about to be shown their auqaat in the coming Ashes series - which, I am convinced, will not live up to the hype being created by the English media led by the BBC.
Lets not pressume that they will lack the depth as they did or they have now with the fresh blood, However the difference I see is how they groom their new talent under the umbrella of their old and trusted horses.
What is said about M. Johnson is too early, coz similar sort of statement was made by S. Waugh for Bracken, its didn't prove much so far. they have talent but how far they stand out from the crowd, only time will tell
Aussie new bowlers (likes of Clarke, Bracken, Johnson, Lewis, Watson aur pata nai kaunsay son) have conceded two record chases in LOI of late. They will take a long while to catch up to international scene. Even Bangladesh wont lose after scoring 434.
They still will be amongst top ranked teams but the aura of invincibility has already diminished and will continue to do so.
The only thing we can say is it will not be same as Steve Waugh and Ponting's teams days. It will still beat the world on technical and professional levels, but it will not be same as those golden days (just because it was way too perfect). Their strong system and institutions will continue churning out fine players.
