Finally the world cup is over and the teams that exceeded the expectations are celebrating while others are reviewing their performance.It is now a known fact that the world cup is held for identifying the second best team in the world.Perhaps world cups should be held without the Aussies participating in it from now onwards.
During the period in which the Caribbeans dominated the world of cricket there always was a team to challenge their dominance.But now the cricketing world is turning out to be a unidimensional world with the rampaging Kangaroos destroying everything in their way.This is not good for cricket as such.
No one wants to see their team being thrashed all the time.A sport will be exciting only when there is some competition in that.A recent study showed that even the Aussie fans are fed up with the sight of their team thrashing
other teams.Close games win more fans than a one sided game.The best example is the Ashes series that took place this year.It was very much a hyped series and everyone expected tight contests.So the grounds were filled with spectators unlike the previous Ashes series that took place down under.Even though the series turned out to be a one sided affair,the people in Australia came out to watch cricket hoping that they get a good match.So it is a necessity for cricket to survive(even in Australia) that Australia loose.But unfortunately it is not happening.
Last time it was India.This time it was Srilanka.The Aussies raise their performance level when it matters the most and that I feel is the basic difference between them and other teams.It has not only been the ability of the players that enabled them to win the cup but also the shrewd captaincy shown by Ricky Ponting.What I feel is that Australia will come down to the normal level once Ponting retires.But even if that happens it will happen only after another 5-6 years.But then the samething was expected when Steve Waugh retired.Against all believes they went on to win the cup in 2003.After the home series against England and the Chappel-Hadlee trophy the Aussies were considered as outsiders to win the cup.But when it mattered they turned it around.So that is what they are made up of.It will need an unbelievable team effort to topple them from their position now.
In the next post I shall tell about the team that I expect to end this unbelievable run of the Aussies
