howardj
International Coach
I think there's little doubt over the next four years (I always work in four year cycles) that Australia will still be highly competitive and a very good side with Warne and McGrath gone. However, I think a window into the future was the summer of 2003-04. Australia confronted India (one of the best teams in the world at that particular time) sans McGrath and Warne. That summer, and I think for the forseeable future, the following points emerged:
- We will draw quite a few more games;
- We won't be as able to take wickets through drying up the scoring;
- We will still be very able to compile big scores; and
- Most significantly, we will lose our aura, and other sides won't be intimidated by us.
As a result, while we may retain our number one ranking in Test cricket, there certainly will not be anything like a big gap back to the rest of the field. I predict we'll probably be, in terms of world ratings, how we were in 1994-1996. Arguably - but not clearly - the best team.
- We will draw quite a few more games;
- We won't be as able to take wickets through drying up the scoring;
- We will still be very able to compile big scores; and
- Most significantly, we will lose our aura, and other sides won't be intimidated by us.
As a result, while we may retain our number one ranking in Test cricket, there certainly will not be anything like a big gap back to the rest of the field. I predict we'll probably be, in terms of world ratings, how we were in 1994-1996. Arguably - but not clearly - the best team.