Preview - Australia

AUSTRALIA

The 3 time Champion is the strongest team by some distance. Even though they are currently ranked behind South Africa, every Tom-Dick-n Harry knows that this is the team to beat.

Aus have reached the finals of the last 3 World Cups. And if you include the 1987 edition it means 4 finals in the last 5 tournaments. That’s an amazing record. Making a final itself is quite an achievement, the fact that they have won the most shows that they are just too good for all the teams.

Unbeaten in the 2003 tournament, other teams would be hoping that Law of Averages would catch up. They have a great leader in Ponting and he is the best batsman in the world at the moment. He leads their batting which remains more powerful than bowling. Hussey is an ideal finisher for them and they have Shane Watson as well down the order to do some big hitting in the slog overs. They have the capacity to set or chase high totals, but it’s their bowling which is becoming their liability of late.

Gilchrist’s form doesn’t inspire too much confidence. If Hayden’s toe can bear his heavy weight then he can be a handful.

They have too many inexperienced bowlers in their squad save McGrath. Tait is express pace but too raw. He can be wayward at times and if batsman get to him early then his inexperience can become his weakness. Even McGrath needs a good partner operating at the other end to put pressure but sadly this has been missing off late. With most of main player on the wrong side of 30 they certainly will be tested. Aus will certainly miss the cutting edge provided by Brett Lee.

If Symonds is not going to take part, then Aus are in serious trouble. To me he is the key. Remember Aus started their losing streak of late only after Symonds was injured and became unavailable. Some balance was lost. His slow bowling in the middle overs and his big presence on the field plus his main job of big hitting puts lots of pressure on the opposition.

For players like Gilchrist, Hayden and Hussey this will be last World Cup. But if they are to continue after WC they need to play convincingly, else, as always, Aus selectors will not think too much in dropping high profile players. This is the last time one would see McGrath on the field and a fitting farewell is what Aus would be hoping to give him.

Strengths:
· Great Captaincy.
· Awesome batting form of (current no.1) Ponting and ever consistent Hussey.
· Shrewd McGrath.
· Great fielding side and team spirit/game.

Weaknesses:
· No quality spinner.
· No quality bowler to contain during slog overs.
· Symonds’ injury may pose problems during middle overs (bowling). His absence in the field will be felt.
· Poor batting form of Gilchrist.
· Brad Hodge doesn’t fill the void left by Symonds properly.

Key Players:
· Symonds (if fit), Ponting, Hussey

Dark Horse:
· Shane Watson, Shaun Tait

My Take:
· Semi Final / Final

My Team:
· Adam Gilchrist (wk), Mathew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds (Brad Hodge), Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath