The end of an era...

For followers of cricket around the world, this week has been momentous. South Africa beat Australia comprehensively 2-0 to hand the Aussies their first home series defeat since 1992. Never in the last decade have the Australians looked so vulnerable and so out of sorts as they did in Melbourne last week. Never has a side seem so determined as South Africa to take the top spot in the world from a team that has dominated cricket for over a decade, and may I need, never have cricket fans around the world met this Australian demise with as much glee as they have done, including myself.

There are several reasons for this end of an era to hailed. One- it evens out test cricket around the world. It is no fun watching one team dominate every other team forever. Second- there is a certain arrogance about this Australian side that has rubbed all cricket fans around the world the wrong way and so, there is widespread celebration that they have been given the humble pie they truly deserve. Third- India and South Africa have edged ever so close to the Aussies in the last couple of years only to be edged out by some poor umpiring and questionable tactics. So, this victory seems divine justice in more ways than one.

Make no mistake. I have liked what the Australians have brought to the world stage in the last decade. First- very aggressive batting in tests with scoring rates consistently topping three and a half an over, sometimes over four make for compelling viewing. Second- very disciplined fielding both close in and in the outfield. Third- a brand of bowling led by the likes of McGrath and Warne that combined accuracy with subtle variations that left batsmen flummoxed around the world. And last but not the least, some very god captaincy from the likes of Taylor and then Steve Waugh.

When Hashim Amla scored the winning runs in Melbourne, I am sure South Africa celebrated but so did the rest of the cricketing world as those couple of runs signified a shift of balance that everyone has been desperate to see but has not been able to. I am glad the time has come...Graeme Smith and the Proteas- take a bow for beating the world champions so convincingly!