I think most cricket fans confuse Australian confidence with arrogance. I am sure the brusque, straight-forward manner that somewhat characterises the Australian persona rubs some the wrong way, and is thus easily mistaken for just plain arrogance. For example, the Indian character has largely been typified as mild and passive, and only in recent years has the Indian cricket team overtly tried to dissuade others from this perception(think Sreesanth). In the past we've had McGrath declaring his bunnies and who can forget Shane Warne's psychological defeat of England in Adelaide. The Aus side has been the most stable in cricket for a decade and so it can't be said that Hussey's declaration is an indication of anything other than what it is, the truth.
Without doubt the Sydney test has forced the Australian side to tone down their confidence, but don't forget that confidence was hard won and is well deserved.

I think that you cannot confuse hard won confidence with the pure unadulterated arrogance that pervades the current Australian cricket team. No-one I know speaks of the current team or it's captain with any affection, indeed it feels like there is a certain pity for the young blokes introduced to the mouthy trash talking culture in the side. Thinking back to the quiet dignity of Mark Taylor, it is quite easy to gauge how far this team has fallen in relation to sportsmanship and respect from it's cricketing peers. We used to play the game hard but far, but under Waugh and Ponting it just became hard and fair went out the window. The day when mouths like Ponting, Hayden & Symonds disappear is (hopefully) the day when we see the return of the true Australian sporting cricketer. Until then we are unfortunately stuck with louts with big mouths.

Cannot put it better KJH, confidence hard won is deserved, but, after the Sydney test, India cried foul play and now that the world is turning around the BCCI, the issue was magnified. Why do people say its arrogance? Hammond? Is this because every test match Australia enters we plan to win it? Would you like us to be like England possibly? "oh it's alright chaps, we will try hard but if we cannot win, then we will swap a couple of players and then see how we go, no worries!". There is a worry, that hard and fair is going out the window, don't try to dampen hard and fair now by saying its merely arrogance. Any team in the world would love the confidence that they know they have the best chance in winning the test match, therefore its expected. Why were the West Indies team so good in the 80's? confidence. Why was the English team so powerful early in the century? Confidence. Why will Australia possibly not win in India? Because the BCCI has banished and burnt the Aussies confidence.

The Aussies are one good cricket team. No doubt about that, they have been for as long as I have watched the game. But what a bunch of self righteous fools they are. Glen McGrath pulled every little dirty trick in the book. Lehman got banned for racial abuse. Ponting claimed a grassed catch. The whole team pretended that 13 decisions didn't go against India in Sydney. The list is endless. Oh and another thing. Everyone should stop whining about India's financial muscle. This is going to be an Asian century and this is only a sign of things to come. Deal with it or quit playing. Those who give should also be man enough to take.

why has this become a racial thing AN
The Aussies are good, but can act like spoilt brats. And you cannot say the asian teams are being discriminated against. The BCCI practically own the cricketing world. People have forgoten that cricket is merely a sport, it has nothing to do with life and death. we have to remember that, a hopefully that will cut out these trivial issues

Hammond, who was captain before Mark Taylor? Mr Hard-as-nails Allen Border. Cricket has forever been made up of heroes&villains. Jardine, WG, and Bradman were certainly no saints. I for one would rather see aggressive passion than the insipid defeatist attitude portrayed by some teams. Ponting may not be as loved as Taylor or as respected as Waugh, but he is certainly respected for his great talent and for the competitive spirit he inherited from Waugh. I don't see the need for sportsmen & women to act like saints or pillars of the community. Ponting's talent is undisputed and Hayden will go down as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time, who cares if they make you feel warm inside or not, at least we got to see them play.
And AN,the Aus team didn't pretend the mistakes didn't happen. They just realise that mistakes are made in every series and accepted it like the adults they are rather than crying and threatening a boycott. "Deal with it or quit playing"? Good idea.

Trouble is that the "win at all costs" attitude filters down to the grass roots of cricket. If a young bloke grows up watching Ponting as captain rather than say Taylor then that nastiness pervades ALL the grades of cricket. People in the Australian cricket team should realise that they don't exist in a bubble but are in every way role models for whole generations of future cricketers. And this current team has failed in that dismally. Just can't see a father watching Ponting mouth off at umpires and opposition captains alike and saying to his son "see mate that is the way to be a true Australian sportsman". I think defeat against England & India in the next 12 months will be good for the side.

I grew up watching Allen Border swear on TV, throwing balls at the ground in disgust, seeing Waugh&Ambrose go nose to nose, and saw many times the footage of Lillee kicking Miandad in the behind. Never have I abused a fellow player or team mate. Modern payers are all too aware of the public focus they are in and I think the media should show some restraint in the reporting of these events. What happens on the field stays on the field (except for racial abuse). I don't think this team has failed in their public relations; Hussey, Lee, Clark, Gilly, Johnson, Jacques have behaved above reproach. To tar the whole team by the actions of a few is unfair considering actions in other parts of the world: drugs in Pakistan & WI, jelly beans & alcohol in England, slapping in India.
Irrespsective, I think you are right, defeat against Eng&Ind would be good for world cricket not just Aus. I don't think it will happen though :) Both series will be close draws