Wake Up Champs !

When the underdogs shocked the ‘King Khan’s’ star studded lineup dubbed as clear favourites before enthusiastic home crowd at Qazzafi stadium, Lahore during the 1987 world cup, the events that ensued proved that it was not a mere fluke.

A narrow defeat inflicted upon the arch-rivals England only days later that helped them claim their maiden world cup victory marked the beginning of a new era in the world cricket. From then on, Aussies not only invariably dominated most of the international cricketing scene but also set new standards for the game during the last two decades. The remarkable track record and invincibility displayed by the team in every sector of the game and every form of cricket can perhaps only be matched by the former ‘black lightening’ Windies.

Successive display of teetering and nose-diving performances now makes us wonder whether they are going to meet the same fate as their predecessors?

The way the 3rd test against the Proteas is progressing has less significance even if the Aussies are able to evade the inevitable threat to their top ranking for the time being. Back to back series losses against India in India and then South Africa at home come with serious repercussions. Even the daring display of batting by Skipper Ponting during the last test ( 101 & 99 ) could not stop the landslide.

In all simplicity, it’s just not another case of temporary rough patch whereby the guns could not go blazing for which they are known. Hayden, Symonds and Hussey have misfired repeatedly and selection of atleast one of them is being critically questioned. Whether the departure of greats like Adam Gilchrist, Mc Grath, Shane Warne, Michael Bevan and Damien Martyn has left the team undermined is anybody’s guess. Even Ricky Ponting had to admit that his squad has to go through interim rebuilding while the young blood blends into the old blood.

The question is whether the pipeline is flushed with as good a quality stuff that can claim to provide replacement for such greats? For it definitely takes something extra ordinary to create a formidable and impregnable outfit of the sort that remained unbeaten at home since 1993 and completed hat-trick of world cup victories. If they really mean to retain their supremacy, the Australians that once could boast of fielding even two sides of unmatched professionalism and talent are posed with serious challenge of fixing the weak links in their chain.