To say South Africa could beat Australia only because Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath were not there is akin to saying that South Africa did not beat Australia earlier because they did not have a Shane Warne in their side. This is not the place or time for excuses. If lesser known teams have accepted defeat, it is time Australia accepts it too.
While Australia were at the top, there had no excuses. Now they are miserably threatening to fall off the perch, it is simply too undignified to search for excuses when what Australia really needs is to look forward. Living in the past has certainly not done them much good.
Should not other teams be finding excuses? Surely there is more than a couple teams who would like to state that they were at less than full strength or that they had not found their magic wand yet when Australia beat them on their way to the juggernaut and to the top. By that same measurement where victory is victory irrespective of personnel or performance, South Africa thoroughly deserve this victory simply because they pulled themselves out of holes where Australia struggled to find the way out.
There is no doubt that men like Matthew Hayden made a huge difference and that when their form deserted them, Australia were all at sea. But then again, at some point or the other, when Australia was thumping other countries, they too had some of their key players struggling to find their feet again.
The simple fact of the matter was South Africa showed more resilience, more courage and were plain too fresh with ideas to be cowered down. They outthought their opponents when they themselves had hit bottom. Their outplayed their opponents in similar situations. And they outran their opponents when the race stretched out over five days.
Australia should accept the fact that they have lost their winning ways. It is not the end of the road and given their past history, no team, not even South Africa, will take them lightly in the months to come over what has happened. But they will surely feel more relaxed when confronting Australia again.
Australia have lost their demonic hold.
No Cheer in This Dressing Room
