PEOPLE looked at Dean Jones as if he had just defamed their grandmother on Friday.
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Speaking in Launceston alongside English giant Sir Ian Botham, Jones declared that should Australia win today's World Cup final over New Zealand, it would become the country's greatest limited-overs side.
The assessment is superficially ludicrous, but the data paints a decent argument.
Correct - there is no Ponting, Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Bevan, Boon and Waugh, who have been crucial in Australia's previous four winning campaigns in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
However, as Jones stated, "if Australia win, they will have won 18 of their past 21 ODIs and that's something no other Australian team has done".
It is an interesting concept to ponder. It is an intriguing line-up from Warner to Hazelwood.
It is basically a team of all-rounders who can at least do two of the game's three disciplines - batting, bowling and fielding - exceptionally well.
Both Australia and New Zealand are littered with experience and youth. Both are evenly matched and as capable as each other to win the tournament.
The Kiwis are undefeated, but they have also not left their homeland where grounds were built using a 20¢ coin for the circumference - an environment in which Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Co. excel.
The sparse MCG will favour Australia and the co-hosts' lack of travel may hinder them.
New Zealand's record in Australia is not glamorous either, but the whole side is ticking like a new clock and poses a dangerous threat - especially Trent Boult if he can claim early wickets.
It will be a match full of emotion, and it is a fitting way to end an enticing competition full of outstanding performances on many fronts.
For New Zealand, it is a chance to create history and reach a pinnacle only dreamt about.
For Australia it would end a summer that started with tragedy.
For both sides, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It would be a fantastic way for Michael Clarke to end his ODI career, joining Alan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting as world-beating skippers.
It would be a significant achievement for the team to taste victory on home soil.
As for their statue in history, they will never be forgotten.
