Changing of the Guard.

I know that it's all dependent on the final test as to who is ranked No.1 in the world, but, I suspect that finally the cycle has finally come to an end for Australian dominance in cricket.

I personally thought, in error, that it'd happen around the time of Steve Waugh retiring. But thanks to the aussies quality of depth, other people came and keep coming through.

I suspect today is the start of a different era. On losing the two leading wickets takers in McGrath and Warne and the quality of Langer and Gilchrist. It seems Australia may finally realise that it could be over for a few years. Everything happens in cycles. When I was younger it was the Windies that showed people how to play. In the last 10 years or so, Australia.

They can still produce the batsmen, not evident in this series and Hayden's form has been poor of late. But it's their attack. It's not as strong as previous. They'll still win tests, sure. They may win the Ashes, sure. But I'm of the opinion it may take a few years to get back on the cycle again.

What do you lot make of it?

if SA win the last test,to make it 3-0 then SA go top of the rankings.

How can someone who played only 3 tests this year be player of the year?

Fantastic stuff from the South Africans. I am grinning from ear to ear.

Because he's been the best player this year? Will end as highest wicket taker in test cricket (injuries permitting)

The Aussies shouldn't worry, McDonald, Hilfenhaus and Bollinger in for next test

watched quite a bit of this test, and 'taped' the last two sessions last night, well done SA, impressive stuff.

Did anyone see the commenter the other day mix up Amla and McKenzie as the taker of a catch the other day?

I reiterate - how can someone who has played only 3 tests be better than someone who has played 5 times that? He looks a great prospect, that much is in no doubt, but he's simply not played enough. Its a ridiculous idea to say he's been the best in 2008.

Pretty much agree. The difference between the West Indies side of the 80's/90's and the current Australia side is that the Windies lost their great players like Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall(RIP), over a course of time, whereas Australia lost their greats pretty much all at once, and it has had a major impact on them.

Hayden - Looks ready for the scrapheap. An empty shell of the player that bullied attacks for fun.
Katich - Not a bad player, but quality swing bowling will do for him, i'm sure.
Ponting - Still a class act with the bat, burden of captaincy will be taking it's toll.
Hussey - Was scoring with his eyes shut 2 years ago. Now bats with his eyes shut.
Clarke - Good player, possible captain in the future.
Symonds - On his day, brilliant. His day hasn't come for a while, mind.
Haddin - Making progress, but massive gloves to fill.
Lee - What the hell has happened to Brett Lee? He looks as frightening as John Inman!
Johnson - For me, the one real danger England will face in 2009. Quality performer, will go well on our pitches.
Krejza/Hauritz - definitive proof that the Australian coching network obviously though Shane Warne would play forever.
Siddle - Wouldn't have got near the side if Clark wasn't injured. No less than average.

If England don't win the Ashes next year, i'll be amazed.

You was saying mate.....bounce back in the 3rd test that if SA win..they go to no1 in the rankings.

Mixed emotions for me...while its always good to see the Aussies get wopped, especially at home, it will just mean they will come back harder and better against us no doubts.

Their batting could still be classed as a long way better than ours when you consider players like Phil Jaques, David Hussey, Brad Hodge, Adam Voges (who have all scored buckets of runs over here) have never had extended runs in the test team.

The one major weakness they have is that there team has been a closed shop for so long that there are no young players at all trying to force there way in and if there are then they are completely untried at Test match level.

I think next summer will be very very interesting and very competitive.

Jaques will be the one who comes in for Hayden unless Shaun Marsh leapfrogs him, but I dunno how good Marsh is in the longer game. I can't see them doing any other major changes to the batting - the notion of dropping Mike Hussey is laughable.