The event last night wasn't a debate in anything but name. It was a very thinly veiled hours long attack on Trump with the side purpose of elevating someone else (other than a conservative) to be his replacement once "they" find a way to diminish his polling numbers. I have no idea why conservatives continue to put up with these liberal led Republican circular firing squad events.
That being said, Cruz is a brilliant debater, it's a matter of objective recorded fact and not subject to opinion.
How do you think Cruz would do against any of the other candidates in a parliamentary debate format or a Lincoln-Douglas debate format? You know...a real debate.