The four times winner with a hat-trick in its kitty, Australia, is definitely the eye-candy for all the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 watchers. In the betting community, where the matches make the biggest impact, Australia is the second favorite team, with 11/2, after India, who enjoys 11/4. The team currently ranks 4th in Tests and 1st in ODIs.
The World Number 1 ODI Squad
With the Coach, Timothy Nielsen, the squad announced includes Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (Capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Cameron White, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Doug Bollinger.
The Australian batting no more evokes the fear of life in the opposition without the retired Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist in their ranks. But the Antipodeans' bowling can pose a few puzzles, even on docile sub-continental pitches. The quartet of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait and Doug Bollinger - three of them certainties in any given match -- can rattle the best in the business.
The Injured Superstars
Coach Nielsen once said, "You can't replace superstars". Each of the best Australian players has been through an injury phase in the recent days, and are back with a bang to defend the World Cup title for the fourth time.
Key Batsman Ricky Ponting - For most of the Australian summer leading to the World Cup, Ricky Ponting faced questions about his poor form and future, a broken finger only adding to his gloom. The right hand batsman and a close catching fielder, has till date altogether played 151 matches scoring a total of 12,333 runs at an average of 53.85. The Australia Captain has made 39 centuries and 56 half centuries.
The fastest spinner Shaun Tait - The Australia's fastest bowler Shaun Tait, who makes pace his ace, dropped out of international cricket in 2008 due to a combination of injury problems and depression later returned as a short-form specialist. still capable of making the world's top batsmen hop towards square leg. His expertise is in Express pace, and full length that can make turgid pitches irrelevant. Infact, Tait gave up first class cricket to protect his fragile body for 50-over and Twenty20 games. This spin master in 22 matches has taken 38 wickets at an average of 25.28.
Pace bomber Bret Lee - Fast bowler Brett Lee made a rousing return from a 15-month injury lay-off, bowling back at 150km/h. The 34 year old pace bomber, Lee, in 10 matches has 22 wickets at the world-class average of 17.91. He claims a wicket every 22.68 balls, or once every fourth over, a strike-rate unmatched by any quick, tweaker or medium-paced trundler in the showpiece 50-over extravaganza.
2010 Performance
Overall, the Aussies won 16 of their 25 matches played in 2010 and have managed to hold onto their number one ranking ahead of the World Cup.
The Ground acquaintance
Australia has long acquaintance with the Indian grounds - Sardar Patel Stadium (SPS), Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium (VCAS), R.Premadasa Stadium (RPS), M.Chinnaswamy Stadium (MCS) and Punjab Cricket Association Stadium (PCAS). The pitches are unlikely to be West Australia Cricket Association ground?s style decks.
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