16 years - never too late

For the first time in 16 years Australia have lost a test series on home soil - and for the first time in the history of South African cricket they have won a test series in Australia.
I have been following this series closely, and looking for the Aussies real reaction to their defeat vs India not so long ago - their batting is still very good, Hayden looks at the end, Ponting is still showing why he should be regarded as one of the greats of the game and the middle order is very talented. Their problems lie in the bowling department - 3 strike bowlers...Lee doesnt seem fully fit, but will always remain a threat when he plays, and Mitch Jhonson, a breath of fresh air for the game of cricket as a whole, and S. Clark, again slightly injury prone but as miserly as McGrath in the bowling department. No quality spinner and no back up bowlers...England beat a talented Australia last time they were here, even if McGrath was injured for the important games - this Australian team needs atleast 2 more bowlers, or one of M.Clarke or Symonds must be a genuine all-rounder.
England may think they have problems, but Australia have a reputation to to uphold - this really may be an interesting Ashes series.

If SA win the final test (starting on Saturday) - they overtake the aussies as Number 1 in the world.

When Shane Warne first came onto the scene a old boy that would frequent the Cricket Club that I turned out for told me how refreashing it was to see a real quality leg spinner and said if the young man has captains that will be brave with him, he will be the top bowler in world Cricket in no time.

I kinda listened with my hand on my pint and thought nothing more of it, but over the years Warne proved to be a once in a lifetime cricketer.

When you add a bowler that would lead most generations of his type of bowler in Glenn McGrath, you can see the main reason why Australia have been the best cricket nation over the last so many years.

Ask yourself if England would have won the last home series ashes if McGrath hadnt trodden on a ball?

Bowlers win test matches - and without those two - Australia are hurting.

Soon be time for the calls for Warne to come out of retirement for the Ashes?

TickTok wrote:

Soon be time for the calls for Warne to come out of retirement for the Ashes?

And no doubt he could still do a job for them!!!

Fact is, they have to replace him sometime, and the Aussies will have to face up to the fact that they may have to work hard for some test match victories over the coming years, instead of having their backs up to the wall, throwing the ball to Warne and McGrath and getting a bit time get out of jail free card.

Theres plenty of teams over the years who have been as good as the Aussies, apart from those two players and perhaps the Aussies were too stupid...or stubborn, to see it.