Bat and ball / Frank Gregan / 20 October 2009 / Leave a comment

The recent retirements from the Australian cricket team reads like a "who's who" of international cricket but as the likes of Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist bow out, new players come through and the winning just doesn't stop, says Frank Gregan.

"One of the reasons that the Australians stay one step ahead of the game is that they plan in advance. Clarke's promotion will require him to make decisions in the cauldron that is international Twenty20 cricket and will stand him in good stead when he eventually takes over as one day and test skipper from Ricky Ponting."

We've been hearing all year that the Australians are in transition. Any side that loses players of the calibre of Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Uncle Tom Cobley and all is going to be hard hit. It was always going to be a big ask to fill the retiring player's shoes and losing the Ashes was proof that it hasn't been a totally seamless changeover.

They have still come up trumps and lifted the major international tournament of the year. They won the ICC Championship at a canter, barely breaking sweat. That victory means that the Vegemite Men have now won the last two ICC Championships and the last three World Cups. That's a pretty special record and when you consider England have never won a major international one-day tournament it shows the gulf in class between the two sides.

There are coaches all around the world trying to plot the demise of the Australians and even the ICC seems to have attempted to nullify our convict cousin's enthusiasm for winning by awarding them with the most tasteless memento ever as a reward for their success. The blazers that the players were presented with after the ICC Champions final looked like props from the old TV detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). I hadn't seen that many men in white coats since my Aunty Mabel ate those funny mushrooms and thought she'd seen Martians on her roof!

They'd be great for a karaoke rendition of John Travolta doing Saturday Night Fever. There's a rumour that even the shameless Roger Federer would be embarrassed to walk on court wearing one! As a fashion statement the blazers are right up there with multi coloured tank tops and comb overs! Sadly, what the ICC has failed to grasp is that this is the Australians that we are talking about and as far as they are concerned the blazers are quite hip and are all the rage at Queensland Barn Dances. Indeed, Jive Talking by the Bee Gees is still number one in Ricky Ponting's home state of Tasmania!

The relentless machine grinds on however and Cricket Australia announced last week that Michael Clarke will be taking over the role of skipper for the Twenty20 side. There is little doubt that the current vice captain will take over the reins when Ponting either decides - or is told to - call it a day. One of the reasons that the Australians stay one step ahead of the game is that they plan in advance. Clarke's promotion will require him to make decisions in the cauldron that is international Twenty20 cricket and will stand him in good stead when he eventually takes over as one day and test skipper from Ricky Ponting.

However, it will be business as usual when the seven match one day series against India gets under way on Sunday with Ponting at the helm. Prior to lifting the ICC trophy Australia trounced England 6-1 in the one day series that followed the Ashes. They are in an incredible vein of form yet they are still available to back at [2.06] to win this series.

The reason the price is so generous is because of the sub-continent wickets but there is enough talent in the Aussie line up to cope with the conditions and the recommendation is to back at any price above [2.0]. They are [1.92] to get the series off to a flying start on Sunday and in tandem with backing them to win the series a wager on them being successful in each of the individual match odds markets is likely to prove fruitful.

Australia have been a force in the past, they are still right at the very top in the present and they will continue to be successful in the future. They are a smug outfit and it is difficult to wipe the smile of their faces but there was one very large crumb of comfort to be had this summer. They are an exceptional cricketing nation that has it all. Well nearly all - they'd probably swap their blazers for the Ashes!

Tags: cricket betting, cricket odds, India v Australia ODI Series, Michael Clarke, ODI betting, ODI cricket, Ricky Ponting