Australia has lost two Test matches in England by a very thin margin. Both the Tests could have gone either way.
There was no luck on toss also for Australia and they lost tosses thrice during the Five test series. It was also unfortunate Mcgrath could not play in two tests and in the final Test Australia had to play under gloomy conditions whereas England batted on the last day in glorious conditions on a dead track.
While England bowling has improved, their batting still lack consistency.England batsmen have not been tested with full battery of pace. Vaughn, Trescotheik, Strauss, Peterson [all top order] are inconsistent and shaky starters. It will not be surprising if England go back to square one again and face defeats.
Aussies therefore should not be concerned at the temporary set back they have suffered. They could at the most replace Gillespe and Kasprowich and continue with the same team. With better luck, they would be able to beat any nation in the world. Come on Aussies, U can do it. Believe in yourselves.
i think that still australia is the best team and england comes only second.This team has created history and they deserved to be given farewell when they think there is no more cricket left in them.I wonder if i can see another McGrath, Warne and pointing and all other. The ashes failure of this team will only spur them to greater heights.I feel what happend should be seen in the light of its effect on improvment of the game all around.
I think the Australian media needs 2 understand that the England cricket team is now as gud as the Australian team if not better.The Australiams were in 4 a surprise as they hd no answer 2 the likes of Harmison,Flintoff,Pietersen,Simon Jones not 2 4get some other notable characters.Given a reasonable amount of time , the Aussies will come up with an answer...a couple of games were very close that could hv gone either way...so one need not rush things.Both England and Australia have been very consistent in their performances over the past couple of years unlike Indian team which has loads of attitude but has been extremely inconsistent and unable 2 achieve its potential this millenium.Apart from a few brilliant series and tournaments every now and then...their record in the last 5 years lacks consistency.The same cannot be said about England and Australia.
RE:Is a shake up necessary ???
by ashwin on Sep 15, 2005 11:57 PM
Australian team shud be changed, as Ashes is just a start to downfall. as this team is good but replacement in youngters is difficult to match becuz current austalian team members wud move out of international at the same time, imagine wat wud happen at that point of time, so it's time to gloom the youngsters. At england only Warney and Glen did their homework and ricky for one match.cud u point out other palyers who performed.The England team performed by each individual (not only Freddie).Hoggard, harmison, jones, ashley and freddie took wickets.Trescothick,strauss,Vaughn,Pietersen, Geraint, Ashley and freddie scored runs.Bell did not play that much well but he scored a half century.
Let us realise that Australian team ruled the cricketing world for almost two decades, and donot dump them just for one Series failure abroad. Go by prudence in selection rather than by anger and frustration. Umasutarao
RE:Aussie out for a shake?
by Yogesh Hasabnis on Sep 14, 2005 06:30 PM
Australian team ruled the cricketing world for two decades ? Is it ? Then why were they were whipped by Sri Lanka in 1996 world cup final ? Why were they beaten by India in a one-test series in India ? Why were they thrashed by India in the 1998 3 test series in India ? Why were they beaten by India in the 1998 ICC cup trophy in Dhaka and 2000 ICC cup trophy in Nairobi ? Why couldn't they beat India in Australia in 2003-04 home series ? Why did they take 29 years to win a test-match (not test-series) in India. The fact is that they never ruled the cricketing world. They were self-proclaimed champions and their supremacy was only limited to England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies. The falsely created supremacy bubble has burst now. If there ever was a team that truely ruled the cricketing world, it was the West Indies of the late 1970s and early 1980s !!!
