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by Elmo Rodrigopulle

The Australians our cricket's heavyweight champions of the world.

Let intelligently and cleverly by Stephen Waugh, they comprehensively beat South Africa in a series that was tagged as the one to decide who will be the best.

In this three Test series Australia have won the First Test by 246 runs and the Second by 9 wickets and the final Test beginning tomorrow will be of little significance.

The Australians undoubtedly are the best all-round side in the game today. They have an awesome batting line up, an unplayable bowling attack and their fielding is first rate.

And putting it all together and getting the best out of every individual is also the best captain in the scene today Stephen Waugh. Waugh from the time he took over from Mark Taylor, has moulded the present side into a team that is the envy of other Test playing nations.

Their game is tight and elegant in every department. In batting they have men who can perform right up to number 10. In bowling they have Elen McGrath and Shane Warne two of the world's best. In Brett Lee they have one of the fastest.

They are all outstanding in fielding with probably the captain in waiting Ricky Ponting being excellent.

The First Two Tests between Australia and South Africa has seen a lot of fast short pitched bowling at batsmen nine, ten and eleven. While the Aussie tailenders Warne, Gillespie, Lee and McGrath have been able to cope with Hayward, Donalds and Ntini, the same cannot be said of the South Africans Hayward, Donald and Ntini.

In the past it was an understanding between teams that you don't bowl bouncers at tailenders. But now with the game being commercialised all great virtues in the game have fallen by the way side.

Good that the helmet came into being. Otherwise tailenders supplest would have suffered serious injury when facing the explosive stuff from Lee, Akhtar, Hayward and company.

With the Aussies dominating the Two Tests, it was sad to note the misfortune that has befallen skipper Waugh. Waugh who was in the nineties responded to a call for a quick single by Damien Martyn and was ruled run out by umpire Darrel Hair who was convinced that the batsman was out.

Waugh who had his back to the umpire while diving into the crease did not see Hair raising his finger and ruling him out. Waugh stood his ground apparently thinking that Hair had referred the decision to the third umpire.

While resetting the wickets that were dislodged by wicket-keeper Boucher, Hair told Waugh that he had been ruled out. However TV replays showed that Boucher may have broken the wickets before collecting the ball. However after a 20 minute hearing match referee Ranjan Madugalle charged Waugh for dissent and fined him 50 per cent of his match fee. It sure would have been galling to the Aussie captain.

Zimbabweans sticking it out

The Zim Cricketers are a team in a crisis. With political instability in their country, the cricketers must be admired for continuing to play the game.

Apparently they don't seem to be mentally in the game. This is because they must be wondering has to what is going on at home and whether their property and families are safe.

Then it is but fair that we play them on equal terms and not pressurise umpires to giving their batsmen out when they are not. We are referring to the dismissals of Grant Flower in the first innings and Trevor Gripper in the second.

It is time that the ICC rethink the close in fielders wearing all protection, breathing down the necks of batsmen and constantly appealing for pad-bat catches and pressurising the umpires.

If the close in fielders are devoid of protective gear, they will not dare breathe down the batsmen's neck and umpires too will not be called on to make dubious decisions.

Individually and collectively the Sri Lankans are superior to the Zimbabweans and they can beat them without raising a sweat. 

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