Well Well Well... Is this the end of Australia being a dominent force in cricket!

[Hondo]

Well, after loosing the match to lthe owest ranked team in the world, could this be the end of Australia being a dominenet force in one day international cricket. I'm sure the Aussies team are embarassed by the way they preformed. I personally thought that Pointing could have done better with his field placements. If the Aussies are play like that again tomorrow against the England, there is no way there are going to win. Are we finally seeing cracks in the Australing line up? Time will only tell.

[Zainub]

Are we finally seeing cracks in the Australing line up?

Yes, we are. But this has not been the first time. The cracks have steadily been exposed over the period of last 3-4 years whenever Australia have played a determined opposition playing to the best of their own potential.

[Hondo]

But this has to be a big Crack to loose to Bangaladesh!

[rineet]

I guess this is the end. They have hit rock bottom form.Classic practical example of the age old fable: The Hare and the Tortoise. Ponting and his boys took it too easy at the start and thought they could blow off the Bangladeshis at any time. But it backfired. Greatest day of Bangladeshi cricket! I wonder the atmosphere in the Aussie dressing room now .

[Beny]

You dont go from being the best in the world to being the worst in the world overnight. There is something going on here but I dont think It's 'the end' of Australia. This is'nt me being arrogant or anything but It's simply rediculous to say that this is due to a lack of skill in the team. The bowlers seem to be having a bad trot, but is anybody going to try an suggest that it is because they are too old. Gilsepie is only 30 and he copped the same as McGrath and Kaspa. Either way, age doesent cause you to put the ball wide, which anybody who watched would realise only happend a few balls every over anyway. McGrath and Gillespie acctually looked good at the start but failed to take the wickets, which was unlucky.I'm not saying that this is'nt significant but I think we have to look a bit deeper than 'cracks apearing'.

[Hondo]

Reason that they are not being arrogant is becasue they just lost to the lowest ranking team in the world. They can't laugh and shrug it off like they did with the 20/20 match. No more excuses. I'm not saying they will go down to the bottom of the ranking just cause they lost to Bangaladesh, just saying they might not be holding the #1 ranking for far to long.

[Beny]

Well Hondo you'll excuse me If I dont take your assumption seriously. Everybody in the world has been waiting for this momment for a long time and now people are jumping on every thing they can to confirm their dreams... I'd prefer to ask serious questions such as why?

[Maranello]

I think it's fair to say that Australia were never miles ahead of everyone in ODIs anyway, they are the reigning world champions, and rightly so, but one-day cricket is such a lottery that any team can win on its day. The Aussies did not win the ICC Champions Trophy, and there have been some vulnerabilities in their ODI line-up which sometimes can be exploited. Of course, the likes of Symonds, McGrath, Gilchrist and Ponting are more than enough to paper over the cracks; these are all guys who can win ODIs on their own, and to have four or five such players in one team has made it a hitherto formidable outfit. However, maybe now the 'weak links', eg the absence of a proper fifth bowler, no 'finisher' at number 6/7 and no world-class spinner are so weak that when the big match-winners have an off day, Australia are not guaranteed success, and in fact, are eminently beatable.

Test cricket is an entirely drifferent ball game though and I believe that Australia still have the best outfit there, by some distance. Let's not forget; the world's best spin bowlers and the most in-form opening bat of late both do not play ODIs for Aus but will be back for the Tests, and will play a crucial role. Also, there are no bowling quotas, hence four quality bowlers should suffice, as they have for a while. Does not mean Australia are invincible, no one is; only that getting the better of them over 75 sessions of Test cricket is quite different from a pyjama game or two.

[Seamer]

Hardly the end. Bangledesh played well, the Aussies did'nt and Bangledesh won. I can understand how people are getting excited by this victory, as any non-australian might, but to judge Australia's ability on the first international game they have played in three months is perhaps a bit premature. Rather than downplaying Australia performance, it might also be fair to admit that Bangledesh batted bowled and fielded very well. If they can put in more performances like the one last night, they will be able to beat any team in world cricket on their day. Well done Bangledesh - good result for cricket in general i think.

[Doink]

I hope its the end but I'm not quite sure of it. Australia will continue to produce very good batsmen consistently but I dont think you can have bowlers like McGrath and Warne at the same time, everytime. Australia are showing some signs of finally giving others a chance to wear the crown but it will take some more time. We'll have to wait till the end of the Ashes!