The year 2008 saw hurtfully agonizing for an Australian cricket. `Once` invincible team, was loosing at regular interval with captain Rickey Ponting and other `remaining` seniors not performing up to marks, they himself set. First two half quarters of 2009 was distressful. This prompted many humiliating remarks - ``Australian cricket slaughtered``, ``End of era of Australians one sided dominance``, ``Australian cricket Dead and Buried`` - and generated heated debate in cricketing fraternity. Barring few spirited exceptions, everybody were ready to write off or write a obituary of entire future of Australian cricket.
From outside, it sounds very logical. In a span of just one year, world champions came crashing. This decline have many reasons, notably sudden disappearance of `Big Daddy` like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and further Mathew Hayden...
There was a time when each and every experts could not stop admiring Australian domestic cricket structure. After every success, there was always talks of how their youngsters always ready to impact international scenes. But what happened, youngsters struggled too much. Peter Siddle, Cameron White, Tim Paine, Jason Krezja (`Miracle Man` of Nagpur test), Brad Haddin failed miserably, while other such as Shen Watson, Nathan Bracken could not attain required physical fitness.
But table slowly turning from particularly second half of 2009. First they won Ashes very convincingly by 6-1. Then they went for kill in Champions Trophy held in South Africa. Then they scaled ``Final Frontier`` in india, defeating roaring Team India. Imagine the importance of their 4-2 victory. Practically Australian `A` team crushed full flowing, much celebrated men of MS Dhoni. Thrilled skipper Ponting did not hesitate to proclaim this victory as a ``greatest``. Then after they crushed West- Indies and Pakistan brutely. Dramatically, this defeat forced pak cricket into turmoil, literally. Even look IPL-3, all aussies youngsters dominating format.
How did this miracle happened? Talks of their fool proof domestic cricket structure and strategic policy at junior level is really worth? World could not believe that Australian player stepping off plane and went straight to ground and performing right away against mighty Indians. Everybody asking surprisingly... How Shen Watson turned into full fledged all rounder? How Mitchell Johnson shouldering responsibility of Brett Lee? How Cameron White became finisher? Most importantly, as how they becomes, ``A STAR TEAM THOUGH NOT A TEAM OF STARS...``
No doubt Aussies once again compelled world to take note of their domestic structure. So needed, in-depth analysis of how their cricket runs, works and produces wonderful crop of world class players. ``Cricket Australia``s vision document and Junior cricket policy, which is to provide framework of player development and gave formats for age group between 5 - 18 years, amply provide useful insights of how they are nurturing skills and developments from early years (5-7) to late adolescence (17-18). An in-depth study of this domestic policy and structure must to understand future and fortune of Australian cricket.
Given regular supply of talented young crop, will they retain ``Crown of Invincibility``? This is million dollar question for every cricket fan around the world. When Aussies were enjoying their virtually unchallenged rule, their two prominent rivals rose to position from where they can challenge Aussie hegemony. Team built by Saurav Ganguly, forwarded by Rahul Dravid and now roaring under MSD saw very significant transformation - once ``paper Tiger`` into very consistent, formidable side, which can scale any heights. Comparatively, another challenger South Africa, which is known for inconsistency, is still going through rebuilding process.
Replacing traditional battles...
So on cricketing horizon, there would be clash of new titans! Fierce battle is almost certain between this two, one for retaining tag of invincibility and other for becoming new King. This high voltage, intensely battled fight may replace traditional rivalarly between Indo- Pak, Aussie- NZ and Aussie- England in Ashes as ``most exciting, emotionally charged battles`` on the mother Earth.
I guess, thrilling between between Australia and India can definitely impact future of world cricket. Particularly when cricket is standing at a brink of transition, thus these two nation holds very crucial importance. Look soaring TRP of Indo- Aussie fight, when there is talk of dying One Day games. No doubts, everybody is assured that indian cricket in ``safe hands``, so curiosity is about Aussies capacity to bounce back. Will they remains on the top forever? Will they tame roaring Indian Tigers or dangerous South African?
I think, answer lies in their domestic cricket...
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