To worry or not to.....

I can see the immense satisfaction in some people. They have been waiting for it for long. The country feels really proud. What am i talking about? Chandrayan-I? Expecting a 5% growth rate in recession? Or the squabbles going on in Pakistan?? None to all of this. But indeed this - The Aussies have been dethroned. People recollect how MSD won back the Border-Gavaskar trophy winning 2-0. How an supposedly aggressive Australia crawled with an annoyingly slow run rate in the last Test. How in contrast India were making a mockery of Australia's deep hole in the spin department, taking Jason Krezja for 200+ (That he scalped 8 is a different story).
No, that wasn't the end. The high flying Proteas won 2-1 in the Aussie backyard. Australia failed to defend a 4th innings target of 414 despite Johnson (their highest wicket-taker in tests in 2008) scalping 8 wickets in the first innings. And how even more, many endeared Jean-Paul Duminy and Dale Steyn for a defying 76 to marshall South Africa to 440 odd from being 160 odd for 5. And Steyn added 10 wickets to his kitty in the match.

But is this the end? The end of an era of Invincibility? I would say yes for now. That Australia are able to still make a match with teams in this position speaks for the good shape the habit of winning gave to them. It's understandable to go through this phase after losing about half of your invincibility era heroes. Look at the names - Justin langer, Shane Warne (the big one), Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and now Mathew hayden. You can include Stuart MacGill too for the tremendous job he did in Warney's abscence. Jason Gillespie too.

People who label this as the end of the Aussies may have to eat their words later. Currently all teams are on a level footing (by all i mean Aus, RSA, Ind, SL and with hesitation England). We may witness a brawl among these big teams for the climb back to number one. South Africa could be on their knees currently with others still getting up, holding on to each others pants to pull them down. But don't forget there is Australia too in the brawl room. They may just well press on others backs to be the first to stand up once again.

Just look at the names that will leave the teams soon - the 'little master' Sachin Tendulkar will soon come to it, even if we are reluctant to let him, there's the Wall Rahul Dravid, of late walking his innings with a stick, and the very very special Laxman. Plus the departure of Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble are not solidly filled yet. Yuvraj is yet to consistently perform in tests. Mishra has looked good till now, but let him dip, we could like the Aussies be switching spinners every other day - between him and Piyush Chawla. Thankfully the pace attack looks settled, but we dont have a dependable 3rd paceman. Irfan, RP, Munaf, Sreesanth are all probables but not one is a definite answer (even though they should be).

Look at other teams too - Let the magician Muralitharan and the veteran Chaminda Vaas bid adeiu, Lanka may struggle for replacements (though Mendis has rattled the world). And taking into account home matches and Murali you may see different results if u look deep into it.
South Africa though have more or less balanced their problems. Shaun Pollock had left only after the sureity of a Morne Morkel. Dale Steyn has been quick to come forward and the middle order may get stonger after Ashwell Prince's return. Even their important opener and skipper has a good number of years in him. The only areas needing attention are the keeper (which may go to AB De Villiers) , Smith's opening partner Neil McKenzie (assuming he doesn't strike form any time soon) and the rock solid Jacques Kallis at number 3 who will be more than difficult to replace considering his utility with the ball. But comparitively they look bright ( yes, u may not accept - even compared to India).

But then this may disappoint some - Australia have a good chance to get back where they were as well. Shaun Marsh is doing more than a fine job at Mathew Hayden's position, atleast in the ODI's and he has age to his credit. Mitchell Johnson has looked deceptive and strike-dependable the past year and he's in the mid 20s. So is the now out-of-hibernation tearway speedster Shaun Tait who can do well by fine-tuning himself. David Hussey has given glimpses of his abilities in T20s and also ODIs in the West Indies. There is also all-rounder Shane Watson who has been irritating the selectors with his addiction to injuries. But minus that and given a prolonged run he's bound to shine as he showed in the IPL. If u argue it was a T20 tournament, i can asure u his batting technique is better than that of Andrew Symonds who's done well in tests. But the worry still remains in the spin department and also the wicket keeper. As for spin, no one near Warne or for that matter MacGill is in sight and Haddin has about 2-3 years with him. Nathan Bracken rated number 1 in one dayers can be inducted back for tests. The pace department IS healthy, considering that Brett Lee has it in him to make a memorable return.

This is a phase of not decline but restructuring for the Aussies. To repair a highway, lanes are closed, service lanes are bumpy, dusty and a harrowing experience. It gets ugly before it becomes a beauty. Similarly, the Aussies will be hurt, yes they will drop ranking points, they will lose series' home and away. But it wont be for eternity. One day they'll be back in the fast lane. What was Sangakkara 6 years ago? What was Smith? What was our beloved MSD before the T20 world cup?

The world cup is 2 years down the line. By the time Johnson, Bracken, Lee, Tait, Marsh, David Hussey, Watson, and other worthy new-comers who may come would have had enough days together to have forged a strong side to claim their merit for the ultimate reward.

The question - to worry or not to? I would say Aussies need to worry for now to find a spinner and a younger keeper or atleast make sure they keep haddin till a wothy replacement arrives. Having solved them, other things will definitely fall in place for Ricky to claim a 3rd world cup as captain.