Dynasty in Decline

He was clutching at straws. India had scored 700 in its first innings and had declared twice in the match. Admittedly the pitch lacked pace and the umpires weren8217;t giving much but those facts speak for themselves. Australia were outplayed.

Throughout the series the Australians lacked the intensity that has counted amongst their trademarks, the relentless quality that grinds an opponent into the dust. Doubtless emotions were mixed because the series was both a fond farewell and a fierce confrontation with a skillful opponent.

Had India been weak or Australia8217;s bowling strong these concerns might not have mattered. But Australia had lost its two great bowlers and Jason Gillespie was also hors de combat so its resources were stretched. Waugh found himself walking almost naked onto the field. Amongst the bowlers, only Gillespie reached the standard required by a top-class team. He is a fine bowler but disconcertingly injury-prone.

In the long run Australia will need to look beyond the mainstream in an attempt to find someone as lively as Fidel Edwards, the novice currently opening the bowling for the West Indies. Matthew Nicholson and Shane Tait troubled the Indians during a banal practise match in Hobart and might soon be pressed into action. Otherwise the cupboard appears to be bare. A lot of nonsense has been spoken about the ability of the academy whose contribution has been overestimated. It is a finishing school, not a production line.

Australia is searching for bowlers with the raw material needed to become Test cricketers. It is easily forgotten that Shane Warne was spotted as a portly youth with blond locks and a colourful reputation whose sole attribute was an ability to spin the ball a yard. As ever the Australians saw the material and were not bothered about anything else. Indeed, they regarded his character as an advantage. By and large leg-spinners are not the fellows to take home to your grandmother.

Stuart MacGill fell back during the series and seemed to lack the subtleties required to inconvenience the Indians. It is bad luck that his chance came along against India and Sri Lanka because Warne has not exactly run riot against them. Nevertheless he did not impose himself.

Unfortunately Australia cannot find any spinners accomplished enough to challenge the incumbents. Another team of batsmen could be named. Bowlers are few and far between, and not only down under.

Nor can the Australians count upon Warne and Glenn McGrath to turn things around. McGrath is 34 and even before his recent setbacks seemed to be losing the nip that is the difference between an edge and an adjustment. Warne can no longer turn the ball as much and cannot bowl his flipper because it hurts a shoulder and finger that have undergone surgery after years of wear and tear. He lives upon his wits and even the Englishmen might soon find him playable.

Accordingly Australia may find it harder to win matches hereafter. No team that includes Hayden, Ponting and Gilchrist can be underestimated but the batsmen will be under more pressure because they will be forced to chase bigger scores. Younger players will be introduced in an attempt to freshen the team, with Simon Katich and Michael Clarke leading the way.

Of course it is never wise to write off an Australian team. Certainly the Aussies will not suffer the sort of decline experienced by the West Indies when their great run ended. The culture of sport, and especially cricket, is too strong and will not permit laziness.

Nevertheless, the proverbial writing is on the wall. In recent times India and New Zealand have held the Australians on their own patch. India and Sri lanka have beaten them at home, performances that will convince the world that the champions are vulnerable.

Australia still hold the title and the rest is nonsense. But the crown sits uneasily upon its head and candidates are lining up to claim it. India found the courage needed to lay down its challenge. Now it is up to other countries to crush the Australians before they have time to recover.

NUMBER 1: How can India make it?

Chandresh Narayanan

AFTER the Adelaide win Saurav Ganguly declared: 8216;we are ready to be No 18217;. Whether India8217;s pugnacious captain said that as a matter of fact or as a way of demoralising the Aussies, we will never know.

Though Ganguly came in for a great deal of criticism over that comment, what was commendable was the scope of ambition: the captain of a team at No. 5 in the ICC rankings despite holding Australia to a draw seeking to improve.

It won8217;t, of course be easy, or immediate. Australia have been the top team not on the basis of one Test series or two, but because of their sheer consistency over the years. The ICC rankings, in place since 2000, have been topped by Australia ever year except the first 8212; South Africa had the honours in 2001-02 with Australia paying the price for losing away to India and drawing 0-0 at home to New Zealand.

Since then, Australia have won all their away series and have also remained unbeaten at home. Indeed, if India are to take their quest seriously, they would do well to note the consistency Australia have away. Coach John Buchanan8217;s oft repeated desire 8212; frequently quoted in his columns in this paper 8212; is 8216;8216;We want to win on every surface.8217;8217; Translated, that reads: more away wins for more credibility and to remain the Number 1 team.

Currently too Aussies are way ahead of the pack with 125 points and are placed to win the trophy yet again when the August dateline nears see table.

So how do India get there? For one, they will have to show marked improvement on their overseas record 8212; too many series drawn, even if in England and Australia, none won. At home too they blew a chance to improve their standings against New Zealand and have until September in the next calculated year to build.

For the moment, though, they have five away Tests on hand to at least challenge the leaders. Two against Bangladesh and three against Pakistan. A win in either series will see India move up only marginally, but it will still be a move upwards.

India8217;s home record is undented in the ICC Test table, so it is important for them to improve their odd-win record away from home. In the next year India have series against Australia, SA, Pakistan and Bangladesh at home.

Last year, Ganguly frowned when India were ranked No 7 on the ODI table despite reaching the World Cup final. Maybe a quick look at the way the table functions might help him plan the climb to the top easily.

ICC TEST RANKINGS

The ICC rankings, which reflect all Test Matches played since August 1, 2000, award points on the basis of a complex system of calculations. Simply put, away wins count for the most points; home losses net the least. The rankings are updated after every Test series and, annually, on an August-August basis. The current table alongside: