My Australia might be stuffed

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris 52817

So, Beny, how do you view things after todays effort? Still unconcerned?

Well what would your conclusion be Kirsty? That the best team in the world just suddenly became the worst? Can you give me any reasons for this or are the English just happy to hope that its the case?

[acker]

Australia's major problem




Complacency

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by acker

Australia's major problem
Complacency

With Beny on this one, we haven't become the worst in the world "overnight". And what is this complacency stuff? Australia have been the only nation in the world to capitalise on every opportunity, which has made them the best. I would only say that 9 nations are complacent; Australia isn't one of them.

How does three losses in a row, two utterly meaningless, one with some meaning but yet with the conclusion that Australia will most probably reach the NatWest Series final, suddenly make us a complacent team? I think the last five years have shown that Australia are the only non-complacent team in the world. The problem today was that Bangladesh outplayed us. We have been complacent in one game this tour; the one against Somerset.

[Seamer]

Bookies odds at the TAB have Australia warm favorites at $1.35 England at $2.10 to win. Seems that those whose profit relies on getting it right are hardly writing off Australia. Aus will hit back hard tonight.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Beny

Well what would your conclusion be Kirsty? That the best team in the world just suddenly became the worst? Can you give me any reasons for this or are the English just happy to hope that its the case?

I doubt very much that the best team in the world has suddenly become the worst, Beny. I do think that the way this tour is going to date, however, should at least make you a little concerned that things may not be so one-sided as you have previously claimed it will be. I notice you didn't answer my question, however!!!

[Victor Frankenstein]

well australia seem to be back on top so far this morning, lewis being made to look like the ordinary bowler that he is (of course now that i've typed this, he'll get 6 wickets for 2 runs :P ). Although it hasn't been their batting that's been the problem so we still won't know anything more until our innings.

I think it was a fantastic victory for bangladesh, i've said all along that bangladesh are a better side than they've made themselves appear so far on their tour of england, it was inevitable that at some point they would get their act together for a whole day and do something good (although i would have predicted a victory against england rather than australia). I just hope bangladesh don't make this a one off, and actually realise they can play cricket and will challange in all the future games of this series and maybe pull off another win or two.

[Beny]

I've already said that I dont doubt that England will win the Natwest series. I think it will have very little to do with the ashes. I'm concerned. But i'm still confident.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Beny

I've already said that I dont doubt that England will win the Natwest series. I think it will have very little to do with the ashes. I'm concerned. But i'm still confident.

I agree that the Ashes will be a different matter. I also think you do your team down in believing so clearly that they won't win the Natwest series. After all, England are no great shakes in ODIs, not nearly as good as in the tests.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by acker

Australia's major problem




Complacency

Not sure I'd necessarily go that far, Acker, to be honest. It could be true to say that they slipped up against Bangladesh by treating the game as if it were just a warm up (they treated the game against Somerset in the same way, but you can't blame them for that: that's exactly what it was). And I don't read anything into the Twenty20 game. The Aussies are generally slow starters in England, apparently (mentioned in one of today's UK papers, though I confess I have not looked up the statistics), and they will soon wake up. You warn the English against under-estimating the determination of Warne and McGrath to win the test matches - well, that's good advice, even though I don't think Michael Vaughan and his team necessarily need it. They know that they have a full team to face, all of whom are determined to win!

Now, it would take a miracle for the Natwest Final not to feature Australia, and if that were to happen then I might start feeling a bit more confident about an Ashes win for England. Otherwise, though, everyone knows when the main business of the summer comes. It's going to be a tough fought series, but I'd still not give England the edge (yet), and I don't think there is any hope for England that the Aussies will be complacent as they go in to Lord's on 21 July!

[acker]

Warnie - Sex Scandals
Symons - Drunk
Hayden - Keith Moon style attacks on dressing rooms
Martyn - Annorexia
McGrath - Potty Mouth
Gillespie - Hulk Hogan idolism

Just some of the extra baggage we are carrying into this years ashes, along with a few "gambling problems" apparently.

Possible solution to the problem get Ian Chappell to spend some "one on one" time with Ricky Ponting or possibly even be his mentor.
And get Ritchie Benaud to deliver a 3 hour blood & guts monologue hair-blasting speech to the players just prior to the start of the series.
And if time permits send a few of them (Warnie) to that American boot camp for wayward teenagers that I recently saw on T.V