ICC Champions Trophy Hungry to defend their title

Back as world number one, Australia will have a few points to prove in a country also gunning for the top spot in ODIs.


All might not seem right for Ricky Ponting and his men in Test cricket after the 2009 Ashes loss, but there are no such concerns in the one-day division.

As defending champions – Australia wrested the crown from the West Indies in 2006 – Ponting’s team is riding high after sweeping the seven-match ODI series in England. Success breeds success and Australia will be keen to carry this momentum into the Champions Trophy.

Though Australia have lost their batting powerhouses Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn, Australia have found exciting replacements in Shane Watson, Cameron White and Callum Ferguson.

Watson, White and Ferguson have played impressive knocks to instill confidence into the batting line-up and effectively reduce the pressure on other mainstays in the middle order like vice captain Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey.

With a fit again and hungry Brett Lee, the bowling looks very solid. What stands in the way of this champion side are demons within the team and other dangerous sides like world number one South Africa, India and Sri Lanka.

Champions Trophy record: The Australians with 8 wins and 5 losses from 13 matches, enjoy a healthy success rate of 61.53.

STRENGTHS

Resurgent Batting: Apart from the experience of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey, younger players like Shane Watson, Cameron White and Callum Ferguson have contributed well in recent times to lend overall solidity and depth.

Bowling variety: Spearhead by Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus form a lethal troika which can seam the ball both ways and at brisk pace. Peter Siddle is proving to be a handful as he hits the deck hard and has the ability to catch the batsman off-guard with well directed yorkers and bouncers. Nathan Bracken, apart from being an efficient swing baler with the new ball, is extra effective in the middle overs with his nagging cutters and slower balls. Cameron White (leg spin) and Michael Clarke (left arm orthodox) too can chip in after first-choice off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

Quick adaptability: One of the biggest plus points for the Australian team is that they quickly come to terms with playing conditions and weather in away venues. At this time of the year in South Africa, the pitches will be fast and the role of the spinners will be limited unlike at the time of the second edition of the Indian Premier League. Hence, they would invariably find the playing conditions like they have it at home which could very well work to their advantage.

WEAKNESSES

• For Australia their strengths can also turn out be their weakness as their batting line-up has not been tested against dangerous and varied bowling attacks like Sri Lanka and South Africa. It remains to be seen weather inexperienced newcomers White, Ferguson and Paine will be able to come out triumphs against the like of Dale Steyns, Muralitharans, Malingas and Harbhajans when and if Ponting, Clarke and Hussey are dismissed early.
• Same goes for their bowling which dominated the England team (without Flintoff and Peitersen). However their real test will be when they bump into marauding batsmen like Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Gibbs, Yuvraj etc.

KEY PLAYERS

Ricky Ponting: One of the best batsmen the world has seen in the last decade, Ponting is by far the best player of the pull and the hook as he picks up the length of the delivery very quickly. Although Punter has recorded 305 runs in 13 matches in the Champions Trophy at a below average 27.72, his record in ODIs in South Africa is very impressive – 1051 runs in 24 innings at an average of 50.04 with best of 164 in the epic clash against South Africa where a humungous total of 434 by Australia was not enough to defend.

Brett Lee: Disappointed after missing the Ashes series due to injury, the pace spearhead is back with full fitness and fire in his belly. Out of the 11 matches played by Lee in Champions Trophy, he has picked up 16 wickets at a bowling average of 26.81 with best of 3 for 38. He will be eager to express himself in favourable conditions in South Africa and will be a stiff customer to face so watch out.

Shane Watson: He has developed into one of the more consistent performers for Australia in the limited overs cricket in recent times. Be it opening batting or bowling at the death, Watson has been the ‘go to’ man for Ponting whenever he needs wickets. With the bat, he can score heavily at quick rate while bowling his seam ups can hit the late 130 kms/hr speeds consistently.

FULL SQUAD: Ricky Ponting (captain), Tim Paine (wicket-keeper), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Nathan Bracken, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Leave a comment