Cricket: Life without McGrath and Warne

Not everyone has bought into the theory that Australia have opened up an irretrievable lead on the rest of the cricketing world.

New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, spared the embarrassment of the test team's decline, reckons the present Australian squad depend heavily on the superstar pairing of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, and will not be the same force when they retire.

Considered a one-day specialist after retiring his test career last winter, Cairns singled out Australia's struggles against India last summer, when they were without McGrath (injured) and Warne (suspended) and drew the series.

He said the pair, who have taken 1015 test wickets between them, were a common factor in the rapid rise of Australia under the past three skippers.

"Under [Mark] Taylor they were a good side, but not as aggressive as they were under [Steve] Waugh. He took them to a new level, and [Ricky] Ponting seems to be taking them to another," he said.

"I suppose of the guys that have gone through with those captains, the main ones have been Warne and McGrath."

McGrath was named man-of-the-series in Australia's whitewash of New Zealand and Warne was magnificent, if not prolific, taking 11 wickets at 23.27.

But both are in the twilight of their careers. McGrath started in 1993-94 and is pushing 35, while Warne began in 1991-92 and turned 35 in September.

"There's no doubt that Australia have had stability and good players," Cairns said. "But I think, as you saw without Warne and McGrath last year, there is a possibility of other teams coming into the game.

"Those two in particular I think have been Australia's greatest asset over the last decade, without doubt.

"The batting is great, but you have to get the wickets."

Cairns said he didn't believe any team could simply replace players of that calibre, and that the successors would have to complete their apprenticeships just like everyone else.

"There'll be good other younger players around, but they still have to do their time. I don't care how good you are.

"You need international experience to know what you're doing.

"As much as it's Australia's strength at the moment, who knows in two years' time - it may be their weakness."

Cairns, who has his sights set on playing through to the 2007 World Cup, will not cross swords with either McGrath or Warne in the opening match of the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series, a day-nighter at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Warne has retired from the one-day scene and McGrath has been rested for the first match.

New Zealand had a solid workout against a Victoria second XI in Melbourne yesterday, winning the 40-over match by 34 runs after posting 277 for six, and then restricting the opposition to 243, with Kyle Mills and Ian Butler taking three wickets apiece.

Having left Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram to rest back at the hotel, New Zealand batted first and were well served by Stephen Fleming (67) and Nathan Astle (66 retired), before Scott Styris (39 retired) and Mathew Sinclair (44 retired) added a flourish later in the innings.

The first "win" of the tour came as Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden talked up the New Zealand one-day side, and claimed Australia would be wary of the threat they posed in the shorter game.

"They'll be a better one-day outfit," Hayden said. "They have always been."