andymacandy wrote:While it is a great win for England, I think that history might show that this is actually a pretty average Aussie team, and certainly well short of their previous standards.The real measure of greatness for Cook will be how they perform in SA and against Pakistan.Id rather be in our shoes than theirs, for sure.We have real prospects, even to the point that I can see Jimmy retiring and that not being a disaster.
Im glad that Clarke is going. I think Hughes death has taken a lot out of him, and it has been a heavy burden for him.Go before the legacy and respect are diminished.
What is worrying, to an extent, is the fact that home pitches look to have such a huge influence on the results. Of course, twas ever thus, but if it just turns out that we win easily on our pitches, and Australia win easily on theirs, and nobody else wins on the sub-continent, then the game will just dwindle away.
You can say that with hindsight but they came into the series having just won the cricket World Cup, that England flunked out of, with a settled and confident line up containing the world's number one batsman and a bowler, Johnson, who England were apparently terrified of, they were saying all the right things about how they were going to clean up in England's back yard.
Now the wheels have come off it is obvious that Shane Watson is a walking LBW decision, Smith is a flat track bully with poor technique, Johnson can't bowl in England/Wales and Haddin and Pup are past it, the Marshs probably haven't got it and Voges may not either.
But that is all because England destroyed them in the conditions and on the pitches that Cricket was developed as a game on.
Part of International cricket is adapting to foreign conditions - bouncy delights in Oz pancakes in India - but English conditions are the very basis of the game in my view so teams can have zero complaints about coming here and finding the pitch seams and the atmosphere swings. Also remember that England won the last series in India, I think the Saffers are the real test now with Steyn the best bowler in the world.
England have finished this Australian team, they were a paper tiger, but considering the World Cup a convincing one.
I think we all thought this would either be very close or an Aussie win, even after the first two matches.
The last two matches have been the most complete destruction of an international cricket team that I can remember (not) seeing.
I think that is partly down to the new management but also New Zealand turning up and showing them that you can enjoy international cricket, that, apparently, was infectious and I bet the Black Caps are nearly as happy about the outcome as we are.