Aussies great because they’ve mastered the art of the Great Escape

That’s why they are invincible: they are the masters of the Great Escape, they have the tenacity to claw out of a difficult situation. How do they achieve this? Simple to conceive, tough to execute. First, they never press the panic button. They are not interested in the possibility of defeat. This fearlessness is best shown in their run-rate: it hovers around the 5-per-over mark almost throughout the innings, even when wickets are falling.

They know that allowing the run-rate to drop is the first sign of impending failure. Fear clogs, faith liberates. They have tremendous faith in their own abilities; that’s why the force will always be with them.

Go back to two consecutive semi-finals, against the West Indies in 1996 and South Africa 1999: Australia were looking at the exit in both matches, yet both times played, almost literally, till the last ball was bowled.

They play such aggressive cricket that it’s almost guaranteed to succeed. Their phenomenal Test record is simply because they keep pushing all the time, every time; scoring at 4 an over, they can clock more than 300 in a single day’s play and have the match sewn up by the fourth day. The Australians defend initiative like vestals defend their virginity.

Next, the Australian cricketers are the product of an immensely strong, well-grounded system. There are only six sides in their Sheffield Shield tournament, all of roughly equal strength. This means that by the time players are blooded at the international level, they’ve already been toughened up by the domestic circuit.

One product of this system is John Davison, who plays for Canada with all the aggression and fearlessness that typifies the Australian cricketer.

It’s that fiercely competitive domestic league that creates a fiercly competitive national team. See the bench strength of the Aussies, how they’ve got over the Waugh twins by playing Damien Martyn. There is no room for complacency and emotion, they see things in the right perspective.

The ruthlessness in their cricket is applied off the field as well. Which other team has the luxury of dropping a man of the match award-winner to make way for the main bowler (Bichel for Gillespie)? Best is, it’s all done with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of professionalism.

That same collective spirit means Australia never rely on individuals. There are no stars in the side; some players are better than others but everybody is equal when it comes to sharing the burden. The five man-of-the-match awards picked up in the group phase went to five different Australians, which gives you an idea of everyone stands up to be counted.

So what can stop them? On this form, not much. The difficult is done at once, the impossible takes a while longer. But maybe, on a sluggish pitch, with the ball turning, India can give them a fight. India have broken one record-breaking run before and aspire to the same qualities as the Ausies — the team spirit, the spirit to fight till the end.

Are they peaking at the right time? Depends what you mean by peaking, because the Australians have a habit of raising the bar and constantly setting higher standards for themselves. And for others, too, but the world hasn’t been able to catch up as yet.