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LEEDS, MAY 22: How Pakistan have managed to win their first two World Cup games when their top five batsmen have made next to nothing is ...

LEEDS, MAY 22: How Pakistan have managed to win their first two World Cup games when their top five batsmen have made next to nothing is something of a mystery, but they are up tomorrow against Australia, a team which may not let the bottom half prosper so easily. Still, the Pakis have looked sharp as a razor blade, especially in the bowling department, and their stirring back-to-the-wall performance is reflected in the rapidly dropping odds of their winning the World Cup 8212; 11 to 4.

In contrast, Ladbrokes has lengthened the odds on Australia to 9 to 2, following their demise against neighbouring New Zealand, while the Kiwis themselves have improved from 20 to 1, to 10 to 1. Indeed, as the previews in these columns before the tournament pointed out, the Aussies look slow and jaded. Their performance has not matched their reputation, which itself seems a trifle exaggerated. With their batting not firing and the bowling looking a mite toothless, Australia are being torn asunder down under. They have droppedcatches and shot their mouths, and neither excess helped them win games.

Still, with only a win against Scotland and a loss against New Zealand to show, there is a sense that the Aussies will set their jaws, shut their mouths, and rescue their rapidly dissolving fortunes against a Pakistani side that may have been fattened by two wins. For that to happen, Glenn McGrath, who was dismantled yesterday by New Zealand, will have to mantle himself against. The rest of the supporting cast 8212; Fleming and Dale 8212; will have to bone up. Their batting has been flat too and to come good against the best all-round attack in the world will require the mindset of champions. So far, it8217;s been nada. Conventional wisdom is the Pakistanis can play leg-spin blindfolded, so we will know whether Shane Warne is still in the business and if his heart is as big as his mouth. His bowling has been flat as a pancake and the Pakistanis will be looking for some syrup too. The word among the Pakis is, how long can their top order fail?Anwar, Afridi, Ejaz, Inzamam and Malik are all thirsting for runs. The Australians will be asking same question about their own batting too. The Waugh brothers especially are yet to earn the encomiums they usually do, and unless the Aussies rescue and win this one, they will be looking like Kangaroos on a hot tin roof.

Teams likely

Australia: Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Steve Waugh capt, Michael Bevan, Shane Lee, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Adam Dale, Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan: Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq, Yousuf Youhanna, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram capt, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar.