Australian cricket team on a roll in build-up to World Cup
The Australian cricket team’s recent victory over South Africa in the one-day series at home has enhanced their chances of winning the World Cup which they had last won in 2007. With the tournament just a few months away, the recent success over a pretty strong South African side has raised the hopes of the Aussie fans who now believe that Michael Clarke’s men have the ability to clinch the trophy that matters most in world cricket.
Opening batsmen on fire
The signs are really encouraging ahead of the big event; whether it is the batting of Aaron Finch and David Warner at the top of the order or the remarkable consistency of Steve Smith in the middle-order, the Aussies seem to have got their combination right ahead of the tri-series against India and England, and the World Cup. The only major worry at this point of time is the injury to skipper Clarke who missed the recent one-dayers against the South Africans.
As far as the bowling is concerned, a lot will depend on Mitchell Johnson who will be back very soon to lead the Aussie pace attack in the upcoming days. Along with him, there will be a few young bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, both of whom were very successful in the recent series against the Proteas.The all-round abilities of Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner will also be very helpful for the Aussies as they prepare for the big battle that lies ahead.
Good crop of youngsters
After suffering a heavy defeat in the Test series against Pakistan recently, the men from down under have come back very strongly indeed and the credit should go to stand-in skipper George Bailey who has led the team with a great deal of courage and determination. The youngsters have also performed brilliantly in the recent past. The brilliant display by Mitchell Marsh in the ODI series against South Africa should help him to find a place in the Australian World Cup squad.
Wicket-keeper Matthew Wade also did a great job on his return to the Australian one-day team and is also likely to find a place in the Australian one-day team in the coming days. The upcoming Test series against India and then the tri-series will provide a clear picture of what lies in store for the mega event in February-March 2015. Although things are looking very bright at the moment, the pressure of playing at home could have a negative impact as was the case in 1992 when the World Cup was last staged in Australia.
Led by Allan Border, the Aussies were knocked out of the tournament even before the semi-final and the pressure of playing at home had proved too much to handle. However, things will be different this time around as the current Australian team looks more confident to win the title than their predecessors in 1992. Injury worries, though, are a major concern as the Aussies try to regain their fitness ahead of the big summer which includes the Test series against India and the World Cup.
So, with the World Cup just around the corner, the signs are looking very positive indeed as far as the Australian team is concerned. Although this team looks very strong on paper, they should take no chances as there are a few other teams who are capable of winning the trophy in Australia and New Zealand next year.