GOLIATH FELLED??

We've witnessed some great cricket the last couple of weeks.. India showing what they were capable of, both at winning and losing.. South Africa coming back very strongly in the last 2 one dayers.. None of this was as surprising as to what happened to the Aussies..

Going into the finals of the VB series in grand style, they were expected to take the trophy home with ease.. What followed was absolutely spectaculer.. England was a team that was tarnished by media and cricket legends all around the world just a few weeks back.. Making a great comeback, they made it to the finals of the VB series..

Inspired by great batting from collingwood and a superb performance by Andrew Flintoff, England took the series 2-0.. Aussies knew they were in all sorts of trouble with Ricky Ponting admitting that aussies wouldn't make it into the World Cup semis if they played this way.. Kudos to England for a fine achievement..

The next problem facing Aussies was the World Cup squal selection.. With Gilchrist making himself unavailable for the first 3 weeks and Symonds in serious doubts of playing, the Aussie team doesn't look so strong on paper.. A surprise was the exclusion of Stuart Clark.. No idea what they have against him..

If all this wasnt't bad enough, nightmare struck Australia today.. Australia took on New Zealand in the first ODI of the Chappell - Hadlee series.. And for the first time since 1979, they were bowled out for less than 150 runs in a completed first innings.. Shane Bond just ripped through them.. What followed was worse.. For the first time in cricket history, the Aussies were beaten by ten wickets.. Hats off to New Zealand..

All this isn't very encouraging before the World Cup.. Brett Lee now is down with a knee injury and is in serious doubts of playing the world cup.. Ponting and Clarke are fighting a Back and Hip injury respectively.. With half the squad in injury or in doubt, one seriously wonders if this world Cup will see the fall of the Aussies..

Another interesting info about them is that the Aussies have been at the top position in the ICC rating ever since they were started in 2002.. If they lose the Chappell - Hadlee series, they will for the first time, move to second place..

A very gloomy month for the aussies but i sincerely hope they come back.. I surely don't want them to win the world cup but it wouldn't be a proper tournament without a really good Aussie performance.. We just have to wait and watch whether this Aussie team can bounce back..