Australia clearly the better team

[TTFreckleton]

Even after the 1-1 scorecard in the Ashes with England's 2 run win, look at it this way, who is the better team:

Australia (won by 239 and lost by 2)

or

England (lost by 239 and won by 2)



Clearly Australia is the better side - but as if we didn't know that already.

[The Phantom Ram]

I agree that if both sides play to their potential Australia are the better side and there are probably a hundred ways you could argue that. Unfortunately you have chosen logic that makes you look a bit silly. Are you saying that if we had won the second test by 250 runs it'd prove beyond all doubt that England were better than Australia??

If anything the manner of yesterdays win shows that England have character and fight that might be up there with Australia.

[greg]

Or you could say Australia won with McGrath and lost without him and if he misses the whole series England will win.

[Doink]

TTFreckleton, dude, the logic you've given is a bit absurd but yes I do agree that the Aussies still are the better side. Ofcourse they are not at their dominating best and someone finally is giving them a real fight! Aussies are still #1 but I hope they cannot claim that by the end of this series!

[TTFreckleton]

All I was saying is that Australia can win by a lot and then just loose - the writting is on the wall and we'll see that at the end of the Ashes.

[Six & Out]

Hmm. You know, this is the first time Australia have faced a really good bowling attack and from what I can see, they don't like it much. If England had held their catches at Lords it would have been a lot, lot closer.

AUS are, on paper, the best side. However their batsman benefit from playing in Australia a lot where wickets are flat batting pitches which can artificially inflate averages against mediocre bowling attacks which, to be honest, makes up most of the attacks in Test Cricket these days.

I concur on form they are the better side but right now they are in a fight and I'm looking forward to batttle commencing again today.

[Dans]

Yes, cleary. Anyone who disgarees is clearly biased. You are cleary just another Aussie who is worried about losing this test series to the arch enemy. I suspect your post makes you feel better about the two shocking batting displays your team put up inthe last test. Clearly your tailenders were your best batsmen, no?

There is nothing clear at this juncture. Let them play out the 5 tests and then pass judgement.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'll bet my underwear that he (along any other aussie) backed a convincing 5-0 whitewash and only liberals gave england one test win - a dead rubber in the 5th test. So despite being the better team overall, they cant lose with any grace, unlike the aussie team who did with an awful lot of dignity and showed true sportsmanship.

When we lost the first test, most england fans gave credit where it was due ie fantastic performances from mcgrath and warne. Aussies cant or wont do that and I think its a shame.

[Microshocker]

Even if England win this series 3-2, I still think Australia will be the best team. The English team has some weak spots, which may perform in a series or two, but in the long run wont be any good: Giles, Vaughan, Bell, Simon Jones

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by Microshocker

Even if England win this series 3-2, I still think Australia will be the best team. The English team has some weak spots, which may perform in a series or two, but in the long run wont be any good: Giles, Vaughan, Bell, Simon Jones

I read somewhere that England needed to beat Bangladesh 2-0 and Australia 5-0 to overtake them in the Test Rankings so that backs up what you are saying. I think I agree with what you are saying, beating them (if we do) won't prove we are a better side - it'll just prove we were better over this series, on home soil.