Cometh the hour, cometh Australia

Australianism, as John Arlott had written in 1949, is the "single-minded determination to win-to win within the laws, but if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means that where the 'impossible' is within the realm of what the human body can do, there are Australians who believe that they can do it - and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them."

- Somshuvra Laha

Arlott wrote this essay a year after Don Bradman's team- "The Invincibles"-didn't lose a match on their triumphant tour of England. But it could have easily been applicable for Allan Border's band in 1987, or Steve Waugh's men in the early 2000s, or Ricky Ponting's team after that. And perhaps, even now.

It's a fair assessment. Man to man comparisons are pointless. Because what Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist achieved on a regular basis not just bulldozing attacks but striking fear in the heart of bowlers-can't be replicated, possibly ever. Pat Cummins is neither as alert or sharp as Ponting nor does he have the aura of Waugh. There will never be another Michael Bevan, not even someone as ridiculously multitalented as Shane Watson or Andrew Symonds. Let's not even broach the topic of bowlers, which even the current generation won't hesitate to admit aren't even close to Glenn McGrath or Shane Warne even on their average days.

The Aussie way

But it hasn't mattered. Australia have not stopped being Australia in the World Cup because even this collection of cogs have the winning mindset hardwired into them. There have been some fine teams in the past, graced by great cricketers authoring even greater runs. West Indies scripted World Cup dominance that they can only dream of recreating now. England's were the briefest, but the most entertaining.