Invincible Aussies bubble bursts

Australia's invincible cricket bubble that was pricked by India finally burst when the South Africans inflicted on these, them second defeat by nine wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday just after lunch.

Beaten by India 2-nil and now by South Africa in two Tests in a row, it must be something that the Kangaroos cannot stomach and must be galling to them considering that they ruled the cricket world for over a decade as champions.

With their champions Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Glen McGrath and Adam Gilchrist quitting the big league, it was apparent that the sad days for Australian cricket was soon coming.

And it came when they were beaten in India by India and then the South Africans added salt to their wounds by trouncing them in their own backyard.

What is sad about Kangaroo cricket is that there are no champions in the form and style of the players who retired emerging from their assembly lines. That is a sad indictment on their management for not noticing the dark clouds that were looming and spotting the required talent to carry on from where their stars left.

Australia's cricketing juggernaut just steamrolled over all opponents for a near two decades and left their opponents all in devastation and destruction. All who fronted up to them fell by the wayside, not knowing what hit them.

And while it lasted the Aussies put on show not only batting, bowling and fielding of class and style, but also produced captains and coaches who were the envy of others.

The Aussies always had the opponents by the jugular and never let go until victory, which was what the game is all about was achieved.

Their approach, style, aggression and finishing off opponents was so overwhelming that other Test nations tried hard to emulate them. Most other countries fought each other to employ Aussie coaches so that they could play the same style as the Aussies.

But now with their terminators retiring, that aura and that era has sadly ended for them, much to the joy of their opponents, who are now having sweet revenge over them.

When defeat finally came the Aussies could not believe that they had lost a series at home after nearly 15 years. Their drooping faces at the presentation ceremony said it all. No wonder then that it is said that all good things must come to an end.

The new Aussie players coming on seem to be just mediocre and that the team will keep coming second best in every series is predictable and it would be sad when one thinks of the glorious days their game enjoyed and when they ruled the rest of the world.

How the Aussies would come out of this quagmire only their administrators and time will tell.

Good for SA cricket

As for the victorious South Africans they would have been enjoying deep into the night and wee hours of the morning dancing the jig of joy and singing we are the champions, which they deservedly are.

When the Proteas led by left handed batsman Graeme Smith arrived in Australia, not many of their supporters gave them much of a chance, picking holes in the squad's get up.

But Smith who is an experienced campaigner had confidence in his men and told them so and instilled in them the confidence and the belief that is so very important for success.

And from the first ball of the First Test in Perth and till the series clinching victory was achieved at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, there was no letting up till they bagged the Kangaroos.

Smith led from the front with his inspiring batting and captaincy and it was nice to see it rub off on all his teammates who supported their captain in every move.

In addition to Smith and all who contributed two players who stood out and shone like beacons were fast bowler Dale Steyn and left hand stylist Jean-Paul Dumminy.

Steyn's pace was too much for the Aussie batsmen, while Dumminy struck it rich with the bat when most needed. The final Test beginning in Sydney would be of academic interest to the South Africans. If the South Africans win this one too, and there is no reason why they should not, they will go up the points table and be crowned the champions.

Congratulations to the South Africans!

B'desh show fight

Helped by a scintillating century from skipper Mohammed Ashraful (101) and good supporting knocks from Shakib Al Hassan (96) and Mushfiqur Rahim (61) Bangladesh stretched the Sri Lankans to the full before going down by 107 runs in First of Two Tests in Dhaka.

When the Lankans set the home team 520 for victory, and after their first innings collapse for 178, not many expected the Bangladeshis' to stay afloat for long, what with off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (6 for 49) in the first innings being unplayable.

But came the run chase and the homesters were a revelation as their batsmen put their heads down and made a match of it by taking the game to the final day.

Only recently did the South Africans go past the formidable 414 for a win against the Australians and at one stage the manner in which the Bangladeshis were negotiating the bowling and going their merry way, even the massive 520 seemed within the reach of the home batsmen.

With the Bangladeshi batsmen making merry, Muralitharan had to huff and puff for his 4 wickets. However he had another match bag of 10 wickets.

It was nice to see skipper Mahela Jayawardena again in the runs with a century and hitting back at his critics.