The Australians relished a delicious, spicy dish of an elusive series win on Indian soil, and are now are savouring an ice-cool submission from New Zealand as the dessert! Once again, it seems that the chasm between the numero uno team in the world and the rest is getting more entrenched and seemingly invincible to surpass.

Australia wrapped up the series, winning the second Test by a whopping 213 runs. The last time Stephen Fleming and New Zealand took on the mighty Australians, a scintillating contest had threatened to shake Australia from their coveted throne. This series has been a pale shadow and nothing like what it was expected to be. New Zealand found themselves a couple of assertive batsmen short, not to mention a couple of incisive bowlers. Stephen Fleming did not even come close to looking like the innovative and battle-hungry skipper that he is known to be. Perhaps, it has to a lot to do with the fact that he is missing someone like Shane Bond, who could have made a huge difference to the New Zealand attack with his pace and movement. As far as the batting was concerned, Jacob Oram was the only player who did not appear overwhelmed by the strength of the opposition. New Zealand were never in with a realistic chance after Australia put up a colossal 575, and then set a massive 464 for victory. To put things in perspective, Justin Langer's majestic 215 was only thirty-five runs short of the New Zealand first-innings total!

A less than competitive series against Australia leaves many a team shattered and disintegrated. And a part of the blame has to go to the Australians as much as to some of the more debatable selection policies of the competing team. The selectors may err in strategizing the right balance within the team, keeping in mind a set pattern of attack. But even after putting up the best eleven, the vast difference in the quality of personnel would make any selection panel turn red in the face.
 

What makes Australia so much better than the rest? The team does not comprise megastars but mega-competitors. That is the key difference that makes any team playing them appear mediocre. These players appear super-hungry every time they take the field. The energy is so perceptible and invigorating. Which is also perhaps why watching Australia evokes such a strong base of mixed emotions. While there is a huge amount of respect for the way the Australians are able to lift their game with such intensity, there is a natural human tendency of wanting to watch the gigantic power humbled by an underdog. All the emphasis on doing the basic rights and finding the perfect balance in the squad takes on a whole new meaning when applied to the Australians. The motivation within the squad is awe-inspiring as the players on the bench just step up and rise to the occasion, making every successful outing a major headache for the selectors. Mental toughness is perhaps the hallmark of the system that produces not just talented, young stars, but players with a keen desire to stand among the stalwarts and not be overwhelmed by the stars in the opposing camp as well as in their own. Their capabilities seem primed to the needs and demands of the international arena when so many of their contemporaries find themselves facing a whole other ball game at the same level.

Please, please, please! - Daniel Vettori epitomises the plight of his team as he goes down on his haunches after failing to get a favourable leg-before verdict. anger.

Australia's average age is above thirty. However, if the other teams are thinking in terms of playing a waiting game till the stalwarts bid adieu, they will end up causing more harm to themselves. Australia have already lost some of their pillars, like the Waugh twins. Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath (Man of the Series against New Zealand), judging by their performances, are not even contemplating retirement, but the inevitable will come soon. Australia will feel the dearth of such cricketers. This, despite Brett Lee getting hungrier and impatient waiting in the wings. Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn must have got used by now to reading 'farewell' columns written in their honour. But the Aussies are slowly and surely injecting small doses of youthful exuberance into the national side. If Michael Clarke epitomises the raw talent that exists in Australian cricket, teams around the world are in for a hard time.