Blogs Kiwis destroy the Kangaroos
February 17th, 2007 by jatanrDestruction. That one word aptly describes what happened to Australia at Wellington against New Zealand. Not only were the mighty Australians defeated, a feat which only a few teams can boast of these days, but they were humbled by collective efforts from all players in the New Zealand team. It will be difficult to find an instance when the world’s number 1 team was defeated in such a one-sided contest.
New Zealand won the toss and put Australia in on a typical New Zeland bouncy track. Shane Bonds wrecked havoc with 5 wickets for only 23 runs, including three clean bowled and one stunning caught and bowled. Australia were 45 for 3 at the 18th over stage. But what usually happens did not happen this time. Australia were never able to recover from that situation, folding at a score of 148 all out. It took them almost 50 overs to achieve that.
Well, if Australia cannot make 150 on this track, the pitch must be terribly bad and Australia can surely get the opponents out on a lower score. But guess what, neither of the NZ opening batsmen were in a mood to make history repeat itself. Instead, they were determined to rewrite some of the history. Fleming and Vincent chased down the target in just 27 overs, without getting out. Each of them made scores in excess of 70 and completed one of the worse days in Australian cricket in style.
Agreed that Australia were without a few of their regular players. Symonds, Ponting and Gilchrist have not come on this tour and Brett Lee and Michael Clarke were ruled out due to injuries. But wasn’t Australia’s bench strength which made this team the world’s number one one-day team for the entire current decade? Losing a match is not the problem here. The worrying aspect for Australia, and it hasn’t really experienced anything like this for a long time now, is the fact that the bench was not able to deliver when given a chance. Fringe players like Shane Watson, Phil Jacques, Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken did not perform at all. Only the regular work horses like McGrath, Hussey, and to a certain extent, Brad Hogg provided something to cheer for the Australian supporters.
Australia have lost their last three matches. This hasn’t happened since the 2002/03 season against the West Indies on the road. And given the current team composition and the fragility of the bench strength, I will not be surprised if Australia loses at least one of the remaining two matches against New Zealand. For Australia, there is much at stake than just losing another match. If they lose any of the remaining two one-dayers against NZ, they will lose their world number 1 ranking to South Africa.
These flurry of defeats could have not come at a more inopportune moment for them, with the defence of the World Cup looming large. Other teams, especially India and Pakistan, who have lost to them in the previous two editions of the World Cup Finals, would be taking encouragement from their current form. Their recent one-day results have thrown open the World Cup. It is anybody’s game now! Any one wanna bet as to who will win the world cup ? 
February 17th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
A lot is going on in the World of Cricket these days with quite a few teams switching positions with each other on the ranking table. As of now, Aus and SA have the same “Rating” number, whereas 4 other teams Pak, Ind, NZ and SL are separated by 3 points between them. The timing for this competitiveness can not be better than a few weeks before the World Cup. At least for now we might start thinking that it is anybody’s cup for now. Unless of course the Australians wake up from their current short nap and take over the reins again.
As I am writing this, Australia has scored 336/4 in the 2nd ODI, with Hussey the captain making 105 in 84 balls with 8 fours and 6 Sixes. I am not saying that this match is over by any means, but looks like the Aussies are not looking to repeat their disastrous performance in first ODI.
February 18th, 2007 at 1:05 am
And NZ just chased 334! As you said prashant, it aint over till its over. I followed the match online and it was great. Wish I could have watched it though!
So Australia are finally dethroned of their ODI number 1 ranking!!!!
February 19th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I am amazed at the kind of passionate vocabulary that we all use with regards to Australia. Australia and us dont seem to have any love lost!!!!!! Now that the kangaroos have been dehtroned of their ODI number 1 ranking, all of a sudden the world of cricket seems to be such a bright place. The arena is open for any of the teams to be a contender for the world cup! But i fear that we might have really jumped on to the wagon by thinking that we can actually assume that its anybody’s cup now
February 20th, 2007 at 10:17 am
What is going on here? NZ chased 346 successfully….Swept the series against Australia. Given, that Australia is without Ponting, Gilchrist, Seymonds and Clark. But NONE of them are front-line bowlers. Now the selectos might be hoping that Bret Lee is out and they can replace him with Stuart Clark, their star bowler of 2006.
February 21st, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Australia’s arrogance is again seen when they did not pick Stuart Clark for the world cup. They instead picked Tait. And tait was hammered all over the park in the last ODI. I am sure had clark been in the team instead of Tait, they would have won the match.
With Lee injured and Tait and Johnson very wayward and easily hittable, Aussies will have to get back Clark. But then, I wont be surprised if they dont!
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Looks like the Aussies have no choice now but to get Stuart Clark. I guess Brett Lee’s ankle got better of the Aussie arrogance. Proves one thing…mind games don’t always win you the match, you need to have the body to back it up too
!
I’m sure Stuart Clark would’ve made some difference in place of Shaun Tait in the last match. But considering the fact that Clark was hammered for 87 runs in 7 overs against the West Indies in the Champions Trophy..it would’ve been interesting to see how the match would’ve played out had Clark been there.