CRICKET NEWS

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Accept we are no longer No 1, Warne to Aussies Press Trust of India

Instead of panicking and making knee-jerk changes losing the Ashes to England, spin legend Shane Warne feels Australia should accept that it is no longer the top Test side that it used to be and needs a "long period of reflection".

"...where do Australia go from here? First of all, don't panic. Now is not the time to make the serious changes and I would like to see the same side play in Sydney, apart from a spinner coming into the team for Ryan Harris," Warne wrote in his column for the 'Daily Telegraph' after Australia's loss in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne that has helped England retain the coveted urn.

"The next Test series is not until August, when we play Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. That is the time to make rational judgment calls," he suggested.

Warne said embattled skipper Ricky Ponting should be given time to think about his future.

"This way it gives Ricky Ponting six months to think about what he wants to do next, and he and the selectors have to work out what is the best thing for Australian cricket and not individuals," he said.

Warne said the key to rebuilding the team, which currently lies fifth in ICC rankings, lies in accepting that its aura is gone at least for now.

"Australia have performed poorly over the past couple of years and the authorities have to look at the top all the way down and work out what they need to do better.

"Everyone is saying England are brilliantly prepared but that is what Australia were like for 15 or 20 years - so much better than everyone else," he said.

"All the other countries have now caught up. When you are the best you have to train as if you are No 2 to keep everyone at bay.

"Australia are now No 5 in the world and they have to go back to the drawing board. They have to work out how they can be No 1 again because at the moment we are going backwards," he added.

Warne said international teams have caught up with the Aussies by simply copying the cricket structure Down Under.

"Now everyone does what we did but are doing it better. It has taken this Ashes series for it to come to a head. We can't continue beating ordinary opposition but lose as soon as we come up against the stronger teams," he explained.

"This is the first time we have not won an Ashes series at home for 24 years and it is time for us to say, 'right, we are not one of the best sides in the world any more'. We need to be honest, we need to address it and move forward.

"Australia can't hide away and just say England were too good. It is not just one series. This has been happening for a period of time. Now South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and England have put a gap between them and the rest - Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand," he added.

Warne said analysing the shortcomings in the team would take a long time.

"Australian cricket needs a long period of reflection and must produce a model of how they can get back to No 1 in the world. They need to ask if there is anyone who can replace the players in the team and can play for the next five years," he said.

The Australian public still think they have the world's No 1 team. They have got to realise we are now No 5. There are fundamental questions to settle in the team. We have no leader of the attack, we need an opener and a spinner," he added.

No premature celebrations for Team India Press Trust of India

The greatest bane of Indian cricket during the past decade has been lack of consistency. Thanks to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys, they are trying to buck the trend.

May be that's the reason why the players were in no mood for wild celebrations as they realise that the series is still not over.

Although, there was customary celebrations in the dressing room as players were busy collecting souvenirs and memorabilias, the scene was quiet different when the team reached hotel.

The players were busy doing their own things and there was no party as such to celebrate the success.

"We have won a match and not the series. So we are not yet in full celebration mood. We understand that we have to play well in all important 3rd Test. The Proteas will come hard at us. We will definitely have fun during the year-end party but we have to get set for the battle in Cape Town," a senior member said.

"All of us were extremely disappointed the way we lost Centurion test. We could have done better. Coming to Durban we were determined to play well in the 2nd Test.

"Our plan was to be aggressive on the field. While batting, bowling and fielding as well. We showed that Indian team can play well on any wicket. Durban win is very special for our team," said beaming VVS Laxman.

Thursday was a day when the players were given off. Sachin Tendulkar along with Harbhajan Singh however left for Cape Town by a morning flight. Tendulkar will be celebrating the New Year with his family as wife Anjali and kids Sara and Arjun will join him. The other members will leave for Cape Town on Friday morning.

As it was on off-day, most of the other members of the squad got up late. A few players were seen trying their hand at the pool table while others were busy doing some shopping.

The Delhi trio of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma were seen cooling their heels at the picturesque North Beach in Durban.