Nobody will dominate like Australia: Dravid

The one-team domination in Test cricket has ended with Australia's decline, feels veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid, who foresees the number one spot changing hands every few months between India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

"I don't think you'll see one team dominating like Australia did, at least not in the immediate future," Dravid said.

"There are three or four teams that are evenly matched and you could see the number one spot change hands a few times in the next couple of years," the 36-year-old, who makes a comeback to the Indian One-day side after two years, added.

Asked whether India would also face the transitional crisis that the Australians are battling once the likes of Sachin Tendulkar retire, Dravid said it would boil down to how well the Indian pace bowling attack shapes up.

"We've got a great blend of experienced cricketers, and promising talent coming through. We've done really well over the past couple of years and if we can keep a core group of fast bowlers fit enough to support the spinners then we have as good a chance as anyone," he told 'The Guardian'.

"When Australia dominated, it was the bowling of (Glenn) McGrath and (Shane) Warne that was the key and I believe that England won Ashes series because they had the more balanced bowling attack. We certainly have that balance, and so do Sri Lanka and South Africa. I think the bowling strength will determine which team gets to top," he added.

On his assessment of the Ashes that England won 2-1, Dravid said the series never looked one-sided and could have gone either way.

"I always expected it to be close, and it was. But England won the moments that mattered, and over the course of the five Tests, I'd say that they just about edged it," he said.

Source: NDTV

Nobody will dominate like Australia: Dravid

The one-team domination in Test cricket has ended with Australia's decline, feels veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid, who foresees the number one spot changing hands every few months between India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

"I don't think you'll see one team dominating like Australia did, at least not in the immediate future," Dravid said.

"There are three or four teams that are evenly matched and you could see the number one spot change hands a few times in the next couple of years," the 36-year-old, who makes a comeback to the Indian One-day side after two years, added.

Asked whether India would also face the transitional crisis that the Australians are battling once the likes of Sachin Tendulkar retire, Dravid said it would boil down to how well the Indian pace bowling attack shapes up.

"We've got a great blend of experienced cricketers, and promising talent coming through. We've done really well over the past couple of years and if we can keep a core group of fast bowlers fit enough to support the spinners then we have as good a chance as anyone," he told 'The Guardian'.

"When Australia dominated, it was the bowling of (Glenn) McGrath and (Shane) Warne that was the key and I believe that England won Ashes series because they had the more balanced bowling attack. We certainly have that balance, and so do Sri Lanka and South Africa. I think the bowling strength will determine which team gets to top," he added.

On his assessment of the Ashes that England won 2-1, Dravid said the series never looked one-sided and could have gone either way.

"I always expected it to be close, and it was. But England won the moments that mattered, and over the course of the five Tests, I'd say that they just about edged it," he said.

Source: NDTV

Aussies get it in writing: English cricketers 'lazy'

London: English cricketers are lazy, crave the friendship of rival players and start making excuses when things go wrong, the Daily Telegraph has reported, quoting an Australian Ashes dossier.

The document, containing the thoughts of Somerset captain and former Aussie opener Justine Langer, was handed to the entire Australian squad before the first Test of the current Ashes series against England, the newspaper said.

The document says English cricketers are "lazy", "shallow" and "flat" - players who "love being comfortable".

Fast bowler James Anderson is described as "a bit of a pussy" if things do not go his way and skipper Andrew Strauss as too "conservative".

"English players rarely believe in themselves," says Langer.

"Many of them stare a lot and chat a lot but this is very shallow. They will retreat very quickly. Aggressive batting, running and body language will soon have them staring at their bootlaces rather than in the eyes of their opponent--it is just how they are built."

"Because of the way they are programmed, they will be up when things are going well, but they will taper off very quickly if you wear them down."

"Because they play so much cricket, as soon as it gets a bit hard you just have to watch their body language and see how flat and lazy they get," says Langer.

"This is also a time when most of them make all sorts of excuses and start looking around to point the finger at everyone else--it is a classic English trait from my experience."

The Daily Telegraph said the document warns the current Australian side not to be too friendly with the England team, as they did in 2005 when England won the biennial series 2-1.

"They (English cricketers) like being friendly and 'matey' because it makes them feel comfortable," Langer says.

Source: IBN Live

Aussies get it in writing: English cricketers 'lazy'

London: English cricketers are lazy, crave the friendship of rival players and start making excuses when things go wrong, the Daily Telegraph has reported, quoting an Australian Ashes dossier.

The document, containing the thoughts of Somerset captain and former Aussie opener Justine Langer, was handed to the entire Australian squad before the first Test of the current Ashes series against England, the newspaper said.

The document says English cricketers are "lazy", "shallow" and "flat" - players who "love being comfortable".

Fast bowler James Anderson is described as "a bit of a pussy" if things do not go his way and skipper Andrew Strauss as too "conservative".

"English players rarely believe in themselves," says Langer.

"Many of them stare a lot and chat a lot but this is very shallow. They will retreat very quickly. Aggressive batting, running and body language will soon have them staring at their bootlaces rather than in the eyes of their opponent--it is just how they are built."

"Because of the way they are programmed, they will be up when things are going well, but they will taper off very quickly if you wear them down."

"Because they play so much cricket, as soon as it gets a bit hard you just have to watch their body language and see how flat and lazy they get," says Langer.

"This is also a time when most of them make all sorts of excuses and start looking around to point the finger at everyone else--it is a classic English trait from my experience."

The Daily Telegraph said the document warns the current Australian side not to be too friendly with the England team, as they did in 2005 when England won the biennial series 2-1.

"They (English cricketers) like being friendly and 'matey' because it makes them feel comfortable," Langer says.

Source: IBN Live