THE Australian thrashing of England, and the emphatic South African victory over the Sri Lankans last week were a fresh reminder to all lovers of the game that the chasm between top teams and the lesser ones is widening with every passing day. England and Sri Lanka are no pushovers in international cricket, but neither of them stood a chance against their latest rivals. Interestingly, when the South Africans faced the mighty Australians a while ago, it was equally one-sided, with Australia giving no room to the South Africans even though it was a home series for the latter side. In short, the Australians must be given credit for taking the game to new heights.
When the South Africans had returned to the international fold some ten years ago, they had brought the mantra of ‘doing the basics right’, and it was so successful that others found it hard to resist, and lapped it up in due course of time. As things stand today, the Australians have certainly beaten the South Africans as far as professional execution of that mantra is concerned. They do not just do the basics right, but they keep doing it hour after hour, day after day and Test after Test. They have backed up the physical part of the deal with mental toughness and maturity, and the world has yet to find a way to beat the Australians at their own game.
In contrast to the two games cited above, the Pakistani victory over the Zimbabweans was not that impressive at all. Yes, it was certainly better than what happened in the last series against Australia just a month ago, but it was not good or satisfactory in absolute terms. The final scoreline showing a Pakistan victory by 119 runs with a day to spare looks more impressive than it actually was on the field of play.
To get bowled out for less than three hundred runs in the first innings is not the kind of display that separates men from boys. Then, with a lead of more than four hundred runs under the belt, there were times in the second innings, when Pakistan struggled to get through the Zimbabwean lineup. To be honest, Pakistan was lucky with two LBW dismissals that Waqar got during the middle of the innings, which broke the resistance. Otherwise, with about 150-a60 to get and with Grant Flower and Tatenda Taibu well settled and scoring at almost four runs an over, it was not the cakewalk that Pakistanis were hoping for.
This naturally takes nothing away from a young Zimbabwe side that made a match of it without being overawed by the supremacy Pakistan has over them in terms of their paper strength. But one needs to imagine what Australia might have done to this Zimbabwe side. Only then one will realize the fragility of the Pakistan victory. It is not a matter of personal like or dislike, but Australians most certainly have set the benchmark for cricketing excellence, and one has to match it if the idea is to feel really proud of what you do on the field.
As for its victory in the first Test, Australia has every right to take pride in the way it mauled England, but do spare a thought for Nasser Hussain, who, as far as I am concerned, is one of the best leaders of men in the world of cricket these days. What he has done to the English side is really amazing, having turned an ordinary bunch of cricketers into a fighting unit.
It is unfortunate that he has not been able to field a full-strength side for the last couple of years. I am not suggesting that a full-strength England side could turn the tables on the mighty Australians, but it would have certainly given them a good run for their money. And when that happens, anything becomes possible on the field. It is a pity that Nasser Hussain’s record as captain will never tell the true story.
THE Australian thrashing of England, and the emphatic South African victory over the Sri Lankans last week were a fresh reminder to all lovers of the game that the chasm between top teams and the lesser ones is widening with every passing day. England and Sri Lanka are no pushovers in international cricket, but neither of them stood a chance against their latest rivals. Interestingly, when the South Africans faced the mighty Australians a while ago, it was equally one-sided, with Australia giving no room to the South Africans even though it was a home series for the latter side. In short, the Australians must be given credit for taking the game to new heights.
