Tags:
Journalism of Courage
They have won two World Cups and a bunch of lesser one-day tournaments across the globe, but if there8217;s one title Australia don8217;t have in their overflowing cupboard, it is the ICC Champions Trophy.
This time, the headlines Down Under are all about the November Ashes. But knowing Ricky Ponting8217;s team and the way the Australians have played their cricket over the last decade, only a fool would expect the team to land in India without being mentally and physically primed to take the title.
Ponting8217;s side will essentially be the same that took home the DLF Cup from Malaysia. Other than a couple of changes, including the return of Adam Gilchrist, the rest arrive on the back of that Kuala Lumpur romp.
Typically, former Australian players have already started suggesting what the team needs to do in India. Former opening batsman Geoff Marsh has pointed out that Simon Katich should anchor the innings in the middle order, rotating the strike and sticking around. Former fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has found Mitchell Johnson as nippy and fast as Glenn McGrath and has been working on the youngster8217;s accuracy to take him closer to the Pigeon. David Boon reckons Mike Hussey will be the man who will have to take charge, saying, 8220;He8217;s got the heart to be a fighter and the brains to be a leader.8217;8217;
Obviously, the chinks are hard to find, except that the brief history of the seven-year-old tournament doesn8217;t go in their favour. They have a fully fit McGrath, a fresh Gilchrist and the services of experienced campaigners like Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke. Of course, on the other side, there8217;s this imposing trio of Brett Lee, Shane Watson and Johnson. They also have a chinaman bowler who can turn it in their favour during the crucial middle overs 8212; Brad Hogg.
All in all, the Australians will be the champion team 8212; history or no.
TERRACE TALK
First match: vs Qualifier 2 at Mumbai on October 18
USP: World champions, no blips on radar
Recent high: DLF Cup tri-series in Malaysia, where they beat India and West Indies
Achilles Heel: Overconfidence remains a distant possibility
MVP: Ricky Ponting. Great batsman with a great sense for the big occasion.
Entertainment quotient: High. Imagine Ponting. Imagine McGrath. Just imagine
Unpredictables: Mitchell Johnson, Brad Hogg. Not much experience in sub-continent, but left-armer Johnson was a huge hit in Malaysia; Hogg has shone in domestic season
Predictables: Glenn McGrath, his line and length
Team: Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Clark, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Nathan Bracken, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich and Daniel Cullen
