Ponting lying down on the job
The beginning and end of era’s are notoriously hard to define without the benefit of hindsight, as a changing of the guard can happen over many seasons. For a new era to emerge, one team will have to step up to consistently beat all others, both home and away.
To put the claims that India have achieved this into perspective, here’s a quote from pommy blogger King Cricket.
After winning successive Test series against West Indies, South Africa, South Africa again, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka, India and West Indies, Australia finally lost away to India and are now ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING at cricket.
India’s recent run of losing a series against Australia, drawing one against South Africa, losing one against Sri Lanka before winning this one, hints that they are now perhaps the new supreme power in world cricket.
As for Australia’s “decline” it’s worth noting that they’ve never been overly impressive in India ; even in the “era of Baggy Green dominance” they only won a single series! The overall series ledger shows Australia with 3 wins (1956, 1969 and 2004) to India’s 5 (1979, 1996 [1 test series], 1998, 2001, and 2008), with 3 Drawn (1959/60, 1964 and 1986 [1 Test Tied]).
I guess my point is that while the Aussie team has obviously weakened through the retirement of some legends, it’s too early to say if there is another team ready to claim a decade as their own. Australia losing in India is nothing new, and losing there again isn’t all that remarkeable.
India played well and full credit too them, but to be the world power that their population demands they’ll have to cope with some big name retirements, and improve their away record vastly. In Dhoni they have the best captain in world cricket, and Ishant Sharma is a real talent who I hope stays fit and hairy.
India, Australia, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka all have strong Test sides at the moment, and are all capable of beating each other on their day. It’s going to be an interesting period in Test Cricket and I can’t wait.
Reference: Australia in India.
Here’s the series results of Australia in India
1956
Aus 2-0
1959/60
Draw 1-1
1964
Draw 1-1
1969
Aus 3-1
1979
Ind 0-2
1986
Draw 0-0 (1 tied test)
1996
Ind 0-1 (1 test series)
1998
Ind 1-2
2001
Ind 1-2
2004
Aus 2-1
2008
Ind 0-2
Of possibly more amusement is the quote in some places that this is the start of a “Golden Age” in Indian cricket.
Obviously middle order batsmen don’t hit their straps until they reach 40.
Sport is not a zero-sum game. Meaning, one team’s decay doesn’t automatically mean another’s rise. It’s when all teams involved get better is when the game improves and thrives. If Australia today are more fallible than they have been, it only means, more ordinary games of cricket where the winner is the team that cocks up fewer things than the team playing high-quality cricket.
Have added your link to my blogroll.
Cheers![quote comment=""]Sport is not a zero-sum game. Meaning, one team’s ascent doesn’t automatically mean another’s rise. It’s when all teams involved get better is when the game improves and thrives. If Australia today are more fallible than they have been, it only means, more ordinary games of cricket where the winner is the team that cocks up fewer things than the team playing high-quality cricket.
Have added your link to my blogroll.
Cheers![/quote]
Sorry about the repeat comments. Made a correction and found each update is a new comment.