The Mighty Bangladeshis, Shatter myth of Aussie invincibility. Options

[Anil4]

The toppling of the greatest giant of all

The Wisden Verdict by Andrew Miller

June 18, 2005


"The bigger they come the harder they fall" is a cliché that has been doing the rounds since the days of a certain shepherd-boy and his slingshot, but never in the history of international cricket has there been a greater giant-slaying act than the one just witnessed at Sophia Gardens.

The magnitude of the heist that Bangladesh have just pulled off simply beggars belief. If they fail to score another run or take another wicket on the entire tour, it will not matter one iota. They have achieved more in a single game than they could ever have hoped to achieve in the entire competition, and in doing so, they have secured the respect of the international cricket world. Respect. It's all the nation has ever been looking for. Today they achieved that aim in spades. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of their lives.

[humble_rafi]

MY HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS TO BANGLADESHI TEAM


abhi to aagaaz hai anjaam abhi baaqi hai

[suhana_safar]

I have always maintained that Australia is the best cricketing side in the world simply because they are most consistent.

A defeat here or there will not change it much from its curent position. They were never invincible, no team is but as I said certainly the most professional and consistent outfit.

The Banglasdeh win is good for the game but we need more of that. England now has the best possible chance to shake the Aussies further.

If teams can beat Australia on a more consistent basis then and only then will their supremacy reside otherwise a loss in a 50 games is not a great deal.

Its up to other teams to pressurise the Aussies further and make them sweat for each victory rather than giving the games on a golden platter as most teams have being doing in last 8 -10 years.

[Akhtar]

I expect Australia to thoroughly crush the Poms today.

[vivekpm]

With Aus loosing 3 out of 3 matches in this tour and England looking in good shape, this should be a competitive Ashes after a long long time...

Though don't expect England to win Ashes, they can make Aussies sweat this time...

Cheers,

[Mandrake]

The betting was 100-1 in Australia's favour. And still they lost.
Yet, nobody even whispers 'match-fixing'.
Because it is Australia????
The country that forgave MArk Waugh and Shane Warne for taking money from the bookies?
I wonder what would be the reaction if this result involved a non-white country. At least some voices would certainly be raised.
The same Bangladeshis beat Pakistan a few years back and there was a ROW!

Admin, pls don't black-list me for this

[Akhtar]

The betting was 100-1 in Australia's favour. And still they lost.
Yet, nobody even whispers 'match-fixing'.
Because it is Australia????
The country that forgave MArk Waugh and Shane Warne for taking money from the bookies?
I wonder what would be the reaction if this result involved a non-white country. At least some voices would certainly be raised.
The same Bangladeshis beat Pakistan a few years back and there was a ROW!

Admin, pls don't black-list me for this   

Very true.

[AzgarKhan]

The betting was 100-1 in Australia's favour. And still they lost.
Yet, nobody even whispers 'match-fixing'.
Because it is Australia????
The country that forgave MArk Waugh and Shane Warne for taking money from the bookies?
I wonder what would be the reaction if this result involved a non-white country. At least some voices would certainly be raised.
The same Bangladeshis beat Pakistan a few years back and there was a ROW!

Admin, pls don't black-list me for this   

Nice one bro

[vivekpm]

England defeats Australia. So that makes it 4 defeats out of 4 outings on this tour for Aussies... Hmmm... Interesting.

Here is the match bulletin. Harmison took 5 wickets and Pietersen scored match-winning 65-ball 91 runs.

http://content.cricinfo.com/natwestseries/...ory/211433.html


Cheers,

[Anil4]

Vivek

I sat up whole night to watch the match on TV. What a stunning catch by Collingwood.

England now have their own "Afridi" and what a blaster this guy Pietersen is.

Looking forward to a great Ashes series!

Akhtar miya kya hua aap ka prediction ka?


Anil

[Akhtar]

Vivek

I sat up whole night to watch the match on TV. What a stunning catch by Collingwood.

England now have their own "Afridi" and what a blaster  this guy Pietersen is.

Looking forward to a great Ashes series!

Akhtar miya kya hua aap ka prediction ka?


Anil

Whats happening to the Aussies ! Pietersen once again looking brilliant, impressing everyone. Yet still can't get a place in the test squad.

[suhana_safar]

The betting was 100-1 in Australia's favour. And still they lost.
Yet, nobody even whispers 'match-fixing'.
Because it is Australia????
The country that forgave MArk Waugh and Shane Warne for taking money from the bookies?
I wonder what would be the reaction if this result involved a non-white country. At least some voices would certainly be raised.
The same Bangladeshis beat Pakistan a few years back and there was a ROW!

Admin, pls don't black-list me for this   

VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATION. WHY SHOULD THE ADMIN BLACK LIST YOU FOR THIS?

[unni]

Just yesterday, Hindustan Times on-line featured some 22 (?) 'fixed' matches. The Bangla Desh/Pakistan match is one among them. That match was "investigated" by the cricketing authorities. Is this one going to be?

The site may still be on-line.

[unni]

I have always maintained that Australia is the best cricketing side in the world simply because they are most consistent.

A defeat here or there will not change it much from its curent position. They were never invincible, no team is but as I said certainly the most professional and consistent outfit.

The Banglasdeh win is good for the game but we need more of that. England now has the best possible chance to shake the Aussies further.

If teams can beat Australia on a more consistent basis then and only then will their supremacy reside otherwise a loss in a 50 games is not a great deal.

Its up to other teams to pressurise the Aussies further and make them sweat for each victory rather than giving the games on a golden platter as most teams have being doing in last 8 -10 years.

Couldn't agree with you more! Great for Bangla Desh and congrats to them. But, on a given day, the result of a sporting engagement can go against ranking and form and reputation. India and Pakistan, perhaps even West Indies, have lost to Bangla Desh in a one-off match. In the last World Cup, India had a bad outing against Holland and was in dire straits against Kenya before they managed to bail out.

Even Wisden seems to have gone overboard in its assessment. Almost envious of the majestic march of the Aussies and wishing to bring them down a peg or two!

[gkshyam]

Well.....I do agree that just a one-off loss (or "LOSSES" in this case.... ) may not mean that a team is bad..or that they will lose out on rankings...and earn a poor team's tag.....Nothing of that Sort...the Aussies are still the best team as far their Players' cricketing skills..their Bench strength....Their Winning Consistency.....and all the Statistics are concerned..........But I personally feel that one must wholeheartedly Applaud Bangladesh's efforts in bringing out that miraculous...historic win over the World Champions.....the so-called 'Invincibles'.....the AUSSIES.....One has to agree that Bangladesh was a better team.....and beat the Aussies in all departments of the game on Saturday........I'm being very honest with this opinion of mine.....

From the minute the match started.....nothing seemed to go the Aussie's way......they WON the toss and elected to bat....And then.....the Bangla bowlers and fielders looked like they were making a mockery of the famed Aussie batting line up.....I vivdly recollect that the score hadn't even reached 30 at the end of the 12th over.....and had also lost crucial wickets..........Well......to hell with all that.....Later......even their famed bowling and fielding attack couldn't stop the Bangladeshis from sculpting that famous win.....They couldn't stop Ashraful from scripting that well-deserved century.....They couldn't defend a 220 plus Total ....I'm only too sure that the Aussies were over-confident of defending that total.....Not even in their dreams had they given their opposition a chance to win it from their hands......And when...towards the end....the Writing was getting more and more clear on the wall.....they were overcome by a sense of SHOCK...and DISBELIEF........you could see it on every Aussie player's face......Then they became desperate ALL OF A SUDDEN......to put the brakes on the Bangladeshis.......which is so clearly evident....from the last two balls of the second last over...that were bowled at Mohammad Rafique....Bowled by a Bowler ..who is considered the best bowler in cricket today.....A Bowler....who is Respected Worldwide in his skills to manufacture DOT BALLS in ANY & EVERY Situation......and against ANY & EVERY Opposition/Batsman....just by maintaining an impeccable line and length......

The implementation of SUCH A TACTIC...showed that the Aussies had lost confidence in their ABILITIES to stop the runs.. ...and they had to resort to such stuff.....OUT OF FEAR......to bowl 2 DOT BALLS!!!!! My GOD!!!! That was a SHOCKER!!!

Well.....O Well......and then....Inspite of all such DESPERATE measures from the Mighty Aussies.....BANGLADESH Romped home to Victory...with 5 WICKETS IN HAND AND 4 BALLS TO SPARE!!!!! HEHEHAHAHOHO.....JOKE OF THE MILLENIUM!!

I feel that one must not take away credit from the Bangla team.and its players....by raising questions on match-fixing and stuff........Well, I dunno.....the match may have very well been fixed......I'm not saying the Aussies aren't capable of doing something so wrong....they can very well do it......But raising such points only takes away the credit from the team that FULLY DESERVED the victory from the very first ball..... WELL DONE BANGLADESH!!!! YOU HAVE JUST CREATED HISTORY!!!