by D. Victor

Created on: April 08, 2009

With a champion Test side for over a decade since 1995, there is every reason for Test cricket being the ultimate form of cricket to the Aussie fan. Truth be told, the Aussies dominate in One Day International matches as well. The new Twenty20 format is where the Australians tend to struggle. However, in Australia, where character and fortitude is emphasized, Test cricket is what distinguishes the men from the boys.

More than any other Test team, the Australian side is steeped in tradition. They have a team song that they sing after a successful match. The 'baggy green'- a soft, fashionable green cap- is also another feature of the team from Down Under. Other teams have caps, but the 'baggy green' is nearly as much of an institution in the Australian Test team as the game is an old institution in England.

In the early days of Test cricket, England- being the mother country- was the ultimate foe. Australia's first Test match was the first Test match ever played- against England. Over the years, Australia's favourite opponents were England and the West Indies. England was simply an old foe while the style and flair of the West Indian cricketers (apart from the first Tied Test match in 1961) made them popular with Aussie fans.

In the modern era, India and South Africa- two top Test teams have eroded the value of the test battles with England and reduced the significance of the West Indies. The Australia teams and fans alike enjoy a real tussle on the field. That's what India- in recent times- has provided. The archetypal Australian was Steve Waugh. Waugh epitomised the spirit of the Australian on the field of play. Under his captaincy, Australia often fought back from near-certain defeat to claim unlikely victories.

No discussion of Aussie cricket can be complete without mentioning 'sledging'. Also referred to euphemistically as 'mental disintegration' by Steve Waugh, sledging is an attempt to psychologically affect batsmen by unsettling them with constant banter and chatter around the bat. Thought to be unsportsmanlike by those in other Test-playing countries, sledging has been curbed at the turn of the 21st century. Still, it's the Australian way and they would doubtless try to get a verbal blow to antagonise an opposing batsman.

Australia has produced many world-class players over the years. Three of these stand head and shoulders above all others- Sir Donald Bradman, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. Don Bradman was the redoubtable batting phenomenon who nearly averaged 100 runs per innings. Shane Warne was a leg-spin wizard who resuscitated the dying art of leg-spin to become the second most successful bowler in Test history and the first to reach 600 and 700 wickets.

McGrath was miserly and nagging. He was a talker who often made true his words. McGrath once accurately predicted that he'll dismiss three West Indian batsmen in a certain order. Not only did he take those three wickets just as predicted; he took them in a hat-trick. This tall, lanky fast bowler often did a number on the double world-record holder, Brian Lara, on the way to taking over 550 Test wickets.

Even before they became a true champion side of the modern era, many teams loved when Australia visited. It was the aggressive Australian side that aroused the fervour of opposing fans. Many would turn up, hoping to see the Aussies lose. Test cricket would certainly not be as enjoyable without Australia.

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