Is Ponting Still Quaking In His Boots? - I wonder.

[Ernest]

In August of 2004 Occasional Fan posted this thread click here - England at that time was on a roll.

England of course went on to win the Ashes in 2005, but a lot has changed since.

England had a spate of injuries to key players, also they had a string of poor results starting in Pakistan in 2005.

However Australia have lost key players, Warne Langer and McGrath - so they will to some extent be an unknown force in 2009 when the two sides meet again in England to contest the Ashes.

England could have Flintoff fit, and Harmison may once again be a force (in England), question is - taking into account that Australia have lost three players that have tormented England for years, has Ponting in 2007 still got any reason to be quaking in his boots at the prospect of meeting a newish England in 2009?.

Occasional Fan's original thread click here .

[Seamer]

Always a dodgy prospect making such long range predictions Ern. I just cast my mind back to a thread i started 18 months ago, predicting what the test rankings will be in December 2008 (Three year prediction)

This is the predictions made at the time....
http://world-a-team.com/mgl-archived...ears-time.html

Current rankings....
Cricinfo - LG ICC Test and ODI Championships

Most overestimated England and Pakistan and most underestimated Australia. Australia will certainly be no1, but England are just slightly ahead Ind and S.L and the next three are not too far behind either.

So much can change in 18 months time.

Now to the thread question. I think that depends on how well Australia plays between now and then. And that is hard to predict, as the whole test equation is now completely changed for Australia. An aging McGrath for a fit healthy Clarke is a good swap. An still-potent Langer for the classical Hodge is also a fair swap. Warne however, well we have been shaking that leg-spinning tree long and hard, and not much fruit is falling, and what does fall looks hard and stringy. McGill is way past it. Hogg is getting on and probably only good for ODI's And apart from the sub-standard White, there is not much else.

The bowling plus is that our attack contains left/right arm variation and each bowler has their own subtle skills, so we will be able to hold our own outside the subcontinent. But that inability to win in the subcontinent, if it comes to pass, will inevitably result in regular reverses in the subcontinent. That will lower our ranking, confidence, and we will begin to lose our aura. If Australia start getting beaten regularly before the next Ashes, then i would say that yes, Ponting will be quaking in his boots.

Interesting and exiting time in Australian cricket. Ponting for one, will likely be glad to see the back of Warne - Warne has loomed large over his entire test captaincy career. We have fresh talent coming through and have all bases covered save leg spin. We just need to keep on shaking that leg spinner tree.