Is Beating Australia a Possiblity???

[NZBeth]

Can anyone get near Australia? Is it possible, dream teams aside, facing the oppositions of today- is there anyone out there who can threaten their long standing first place position? Has England, with their recent display of reckonable force, enough to match the powerhouse of Oz, have Sri Lanka, unleashing their new talent and domination over South Africa, got what it takes. Or India? Someone, realistically tell me, who can take the crown from the Australians?

[Statto]

I think it is more than possible but it needs a team (England or India seem most likely and are next to try) to perform to the best of their ability for at least 12 of the 15 sessions in each match which is was the aussies normally do. The opposition will also have to belive in themselves which is again what the aussies do. The thing that wins austrailia so many matches is that they stay focussed so well and have total confidence in everyone on the team to do their bit. By next summer I think the 2 sides will be well matched on ability and only the attitude and application will be the difference between the sides. If England carry on as they are under fletcher and vaughan, I see no reason why they can't come in to the series believing, like the aussies, they can win 5-0 and doing the job. To win though any side will have to beat the aussies mentally as well as playing well.

[NZBeth]

I definitely agree on the mental advantage that the Australians have. It is evident not only in cricket but also in their rugby. They do not give up until the final whistle is blown and they have this huge aura of confidence that often un-nerves the opposition. If the English side can see through this then I think they are the most probable competitors for this huge task ahead. I of all people would love to see Australia taken down a peg and the way England is playing lately, they deserve it.

[Beny]

I dont think Australia is invincible however is anybody is going to beat us it sure as hell wont be England. Our team's main weakness is the fact that there all getting a little old. Sure we have some young talent coming through (Clarke, Watson,Tait, White) but really, other than Clarke and Watson we lack players who can be the mainstay of a team.

England is possibly the most overated team in the world at the momment. Sure their second on the points but lets take a look at the table. The teams placed 2,3,4,5 are all within a few points of each other and then Australia has a lead over them all of about 20 points. In other words we could loose all of our games for the next year and still stay on top. The only reson England has done so well is that they have been playing against low ranked teams. Not to mention that the've had all of their sucsess in what is, for the rest of the world, winter.
NZ ,India and pakistan could beat us for a once off but Australia will contine to dominate world cricket for the next few years. After that things might change.

[Occasional Fan]

The mental attitude thing is really important, and there was an interesting interview reported on the BBC last week from the Olympics. The Brits, as usual, were congratulating each other on performing to the best of their ability and coming fourth, fifth, last, etc., and one of the commentators had commented that winning a silver medal was a great achievement. Responding to that, it was definitely an Aussie swimmer (can't remember who) who said "You show me second place and I'll show you the first of the losers." Simple fact is that they do have a different attitude to winning from the traditional English one, and although I wouldn't particularly want to see national characteristics change too drastically in this regard, there is no doubt that the England team will need to have a "can win, want to win" attitude when The Ashes come around.

[Occasional Fan]

Welcome to the board, Beny. One thing I am sure of is that we are going to be having a real competition during what, for the rest of the world, will be next winter. England will not be leaving their win to the fifth test next year. They've found out about winning games, they like it and they are starting to believe they can do it regularly. At the moment, the focus is rightly on the South Africans who will be hosting England in December and January, but if England get a good result out there their tails are going to be so high come The Ashes that we could have a close series for a change. I can barely wait for it.

[Beny]

Thanks.


I agree that mental attitude is a match winner and its true that Australia is a very competitive country and sport is a way of life. What worries me now is that we are going to get too competative and take the fun out of the sport. There is a lot of preassure for places in the Aussie team... People like Brad Hodge, Matty Eliot, Kasper, Williams, Hussy and the list goes on, are putting thier hands up for selection. The ting that matters now is how our players repond to that preassure.

[NZBeth]

Beny,

good to have you along. You may be right in saying the England are the most over-rated but in all fairness they are good to watch at the moment. You may not percieve them as a threat and sure Australia are ahead by leaps and bounds but taking into account the whole over-competitive nature the sport is adopting, I must admitt that I am enjoying watching the English play-especially the bowling talent.

[Beny]

Thanks once again.

I know im pumped about the Ashes (almost as much as the rest of the world games). Does anybody know when the rotw team is going to be selected and by who?

[Big Merv]

India come to mind but it wont happen over night. Teams like the West Indies for example, need to start, if they havn't already, from the bottom. Training their stars of the future instead of looking for a quick fix to their problems.
Australia is a very sport orientated country and it's no surprise that they are the best. Anyone can beat them. It's just how they approach the game. They need to think positively and actually beleive that they can win.