Miketrees: Interesting post. Good to see that the 'world' of Cricket has some good competition up ahead. India and as you say, England - putting on some good years ahead for the Cricketing world at large.
I prefer to dark horse to the fact that the All Blacks of New Zealand - wallop us in Rugby Union by a vast majority of something like 79%.
Which leaves it open to the Proteas of South Africa doing similar to us in the Cricket.
So I see South Africa as a superior side to Australia for starters, but with the All Blacks being the premier International Rugby Nation in winning. Then I will automatically consider South Africa as the premier Cricketing #1 than India or England.
Either way - a Series between SA & India would be a real entertaining spectacle of Cricket and its 'statistics'.
Alas, Australia really is in a doldrum. When our Selectors throw caution to the wind, its as if the wind has gone out of the Selectors themselves. They themselves, have 'given up'.
Maybe fed up, maybe resigned already??
But a lot has to change if the wallabies beat New Zealand respectably, as to the Cricketers (what f(ar)king animal is the nickname of the Cricketers?
if none, why the FRRK not?) to beat South Africa.
South Africa #1 Cricket
New Zealand #1 Rugby Union
Globally, Africa is to Sport - what Politics is to North America and Military is to Middle-East and Economics is to Asia and Music is to Europe... being #1