Congrats to Australia for WTC championship 2023

Kriterion_BD wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 2:51 am

First country to win all 4 ICC trophies (ODI and T20I world cups, Champions trophy, and WTC).

Last time it was great to see a non-Big 3 country win a final. But I do think on current form Australia are the best side in world cricket!

Hard to say really when India has beaten Australia here on their last two tours, and we still haven't won a series there since 2005.

Although India tripped up in South Africa and in the WTC Final, I still think overall across all conditions they are the best team due to their impenetrable form at home and wins in Australia & England.

jaybro wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:01 am

Hard to say really when India has beaten Australia here on their last two tours, and we still haven't won a series there since 2005.

Although India tripped up in South Africa and in the WTC Final, I still think overall across all conditions they are the best team due to their impenetrable form at home and wins in Australia & England.

On form over the last 3-4 years, yes. But on very recent form, I think Australia takes it. India's batting has been pretty poor for quite some time now, which is something that has never been said about them. IDK if its aging top order batters or too much focus on IPL or what.

Kriterion_BD wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:46 am

On form over the last 3-4 years, yes. But on very recent form, I think Australia takes it. India's batting has been pretty poor for quite some time now, which is something that has never been said about them. IDK if its aging top order batters or too much focus on IPL or what.

It was only one series ago that India beat Australia, although if the Aussies had taken their chances in the 2nd Test it might have been a different result. But India did still win that series, and haven't been beaten at home since 2011 v England IIRC.

I agree that the Indian top order batting is letting them down, and I agree it's a lack of preparation and too much IPL that is hampering them. Although I don't think Pujara or Rahane played IPL this year?

There is a suggestion that India move towards a model where they have format specialists, an idea that I recall being floated back in the early 2000s well before the berth of t20 cricket. I think this is probably a good idea in regard to results, but it will take away the star-power in Test cricket as you'd likely see players steer towards limited overs cricket rather than longer format stuff.

India's openers couldn't get passed the new ball, which in turn put their middle order under pressure from the go-get. If there is one position where I think format specialists are most suited to, that would be opening batsman in test cricket. If India were to stick with more traditional type openers in Tests that might help their top order woes especially overseas, but they have tried players like Agarawal recently with mixed success.

Yeah it was sort of a calm procession to Australian victory.

Always happy to see India lose. The BCCI are destroying international cricket so it is only right that they don't win an international trophies. Let them muck around with their meaningless T20 leagues instead - I've already forgotten who won the IPL!