Australia winning matches but losing fans?

Congratulations to the Australian cricket team, says David Sygall in the Sydney Morning Herald. The results will be long remembered. So too the way in which they were achieved.

Australians love to feel pride in their national cricket team. But not everyone is looking for a South African workmate to roast on Thursday. Certainly there are those who feel immense thrill and admiration after the team's win in Cape Town on Wednesday, which sealed a gripping 2-1 series win. Captain Michael Clarke's heroic century in the face of Morne Morkel's pace and bounce was perhaps the best of his career, David Warner's explosive tons in each innings confirm him as the world's form batsman and Mitchell Johnson's seven-wicket match haul was the cherry on top of an extraordinary summer.

But - and this happens far too often - judging by commentary on websites and blogs across the country, a chunk of people too large to ignore feels disappointed by the team's behaviour. Many feel unrepresented by Clarke's men, just as they did at times when Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh led the side. And, they're sad about it because, if there is one sporting team above others that Australians want to have speaking on their behalf - representing their better qualities - it's the national cricket team.