That team did win 16 tests in a row though, equaling the record held by the Australia team of the late 90s.
True but it was a side nearing the end and I think there it also had an element of the reputation carrying over - it was a very good team, if not as great as the team of the 90s but most teams playing against it were full of players who had been getting beaten by that team or grown up watching their nation getting beaten by that team. Having been so dominant at the top for so long, I think, gave Australia a pretty big edge that covered over the start of the drop off.
The problem that made was that when 5 of them retired within 2 years of each other, there was no one with any real test experience who could replace them.
Well yeah, that never helps

I think from what I've seen of selection, the retirements haven't been well handled but dealt with in a fire fighting way instead of planning for the long haul. Being English I'm used to seeing the fire-fighting approach to team building quite a lot, sadly.
*MySmiley*
Robert Graves "There is no money in poetry, but then there is no poetry in money, either."
Henning Mankell "We must defend the open society, because if we start locking our doors, if we let fear decide, the person who committed the act of terror will win"
Robert Graves "There is no money in poetry, but then there is no poetry in money, either."
Henning Mankell "We must defend the open society, because if we start locking our doors, if we let fear decide, the person who committed the act of terror will win"
Dear Australia
- 07/12/2010 12:52:55 AM
1279 Views
24 years dude, *NM*
- 07/12/2010 01:34:52 AM
679 Views
And all the sweeter for the wait
- 07/12/2010 11:46:19 AM
974 Views
- 07/12/2010 11:46:19 AM
974 Views
every Englishman dreams to feel like an Aussie, and in Australia we make dreams come true. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:52:48 AM
646 Views
You have it backwards
- 07/12/2010 11:56:31 AM
1055 Views
So all someone has to do to know 'how it feels to be English' is loose. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 12:05:45 PM
593 Views
It is to be left praying for rain to avoid an innings defeat at home
- 07/12/2010 12:14:53 PM
1037 Views
You are right, it could well be 24 years before the aussies win again *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:47:38 AM
532 Views
That's funny because...
- 07/12/2010 12:02:27 PM
1239 Views
No?
- 07/12/2010 01:07:30 PM
1158 Views
I reckon the 06/07 Aussie team could give them a run for their money
- 08/12/2010 04:21:06 AM
1050 Views
Perhaps
- 08/12/2010 12:09:51 PM
924 Views
Oh, no doubt
- 08/12/2010 11:16:10 PM
965 Views
Re: Oh, no doubt
- 08/12/2010 11:34:47 PM
1268 Views
Re: Oh, no doubt
- 08/12/2010 11:54:20 PM
938 Views
Is this Ashes-related? *NM*
- 07/12/2010 02:06:08 PM
522 Views
Yup. We played like a bunch of poms.
*NM*
- 07/12/2010 02:12:11 PM
521 Views
*NM*
- 07/12/2010 02:12:11 PM
521 Views
On the brightside, we played like a bunch of convicts
- 07/12/2010 02:29:48 PM
1012 Views
- 07/12/2010 02:29:48 PM
1012 Views
You admit to cheating then
- 07/12/2010 02:53:48 PM
918 Views
It's quite impressive.
- 07/12/2010 06:42:54 PM
990 Views
What is that sound I hear?
- 19/12/2010 04:58:43 AM
1167 Views

