Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Something that's interesting to note is that, aside from the parochial "losing to England is baaaaaaaaaaaad" that abounds so readily in modern Australia, is that Australia only lost the 2000/01 India series thanks to a once-in-several-lifetimes occurrance. Even after Laxman and Dravid's sensational partnership, which there was precious little anyone was ever likely to do to stop, they should still easily have drawn the match. They threw it away, and though they were beaten fair-and-square in the final match, if they'd not collapsed at Eden Gardens they'd have shared the spoils.Australia's great team of 1995-2008 suffered two high-profile defeats in that period - the India-Australia 2001 series and the Ashes 2005. Those are probably the two best Test series I have experienced in my lifetime. I would like to hear the perspective of Australian fans - as supporters of a dominant cricketing nation, which defeat hurt more and why?
I have some thoughts on this but I would like to respond after hearing a few replies.
In 2005 Australia were simply outplayed by a better side, and much as some Australians think England have no right ever to outplay them without Australians underperforming (which in reality only Gillespie really did), that's just what happened. It must be a real bitch for many Australian fans to have England outplay their side though, so I'd not be surprised at that defeat being more painful.