Australian Cricket Team
Australia’s decline might have elicited smile among the others, for their domination in the cricket arena lasted for more than a decade. But they have a point – a valid point here, especially after they have thumped England and surged to a whooping 6-1 series win. They might have slipped down to No. 5 in the tests, but are still the No. 1 side in the shorter format. This said, the confidence they have gained from the 6-1 margin bodes well for the team’s prospects in the upcoming World Cup.
Not long before they had lost the Ashes at home by a 3-1 margin. It took everybody by surprise when they started writing obits about their prospects in the Ashes after they had just lost a match with three matches to go. The game was played in the minds as everybody including the Australian fans started to cheer the English, for they didn’t want to be disappointed.
Retirement of star players seemed to have obscured the team’s aura and injury concerns fueled the thoughts that Australia is no more the side it was, for over a decade.
In their peak, the Australians had with them three valuable possessions. The first of them was the No.1-test-team status which they seem to have lost. The second is the No.1-ODI-team status and the third is an exclusively- Australian-possession, which the Australian attitude. They seemed to have drifted away from their path for a while, but have promptly pinned everybody down with their performance and are back to their winning ways in the shorter format.
Shane Watson had a crucial role to play here. He displayed aggressive batting at the top and surged Australia to a good score and bowled extremely well to bring them close to winning in the only T20. They did not have the touch sensation but they had smelt victory from somewhere! Though the result didn’t go in favor of the Aussies, it had spurred the little spark in them that they could win.Great teams do that, lift their game when the moment comes and indeed there is no bigger event in the shorter format than the one imminent and they are back to the path they alone had access to, for over a decade.
The team seems to have quite the perfect balance now with Watson and Haddin opening the innings with Ponting, Hussey brothers, White lending stability to the middle order. The bowling department looks better with Lee, who has regained form and fitness just when it was needed, accompanied by Johnson and Bollinger. Along with Shane Watson they form a group who could establish a control for about 35 overs.
The only area they must be concerned about is the lack of a quality spinner. Hauritz, who knows Indian conditions quite well having toured here a couple of times, is bothered by fitness issues. So they will have to depend on Steven Smith to provide those 7-8 overs. David Hussey’s role as a bowler will prove to be crucial as the opposition will be ready to target him.
Given their form and attitude they start off as favorites in the World Cup impendent. Again it is all in the minds. They have to put everything behind them and start afresh.
Tags: Australia, Cricket, England, ODI Series, World Cup
