Over the years Australian cricket teams, rightly or wrongly, have been renowned as masters of the sledge, the abusive word, the mental disintegration of opponents and as the downright symbols of sporting arrogance. That dimension, sadly, undercut the respect rightfully theirs because of a commitment to excellence, fitness and sheer hard work. The whole organization of Australian cricket set out to be the best in the world, and achieved that, as demonstrated by the numbers of Australians coaching international teams and playing in English county cricket. For every Australian in the national side, several others of similar quality can only watch from the spectator-deserted realms of state cricket. The quality of Australia's playing performance is unquestioned.