Australia are going in on sky high confidence. But will this tournament bring the defending champions down with a thud?
Australia go into the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa not as the team that recently lost the Ashes but one that nearly pulled off a whitewash on the Ashes victors. While there is no doubt, Australia are a competitive side, they have had their weaknesses, but England have perhaps looked into their own defeatist attitude through the ODI series of the NatWest Trophy to be concerned with exposing those in the Australian camp.
With Brett Lee firing on all cylinders, and the Australian batsmen, including Michael Hussey who has been struggling for runs, in fairly good nick, there has to be an exceptional bowling performance to restrict the Australian innings.
Australia would do well to start anew and now decide to soar on that false sense of security they have built up over the seven match series with England. Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, had essentially a team similar to this for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in UK and yet Australia were humiliated by West Indies and lost their footing losing to Sri Lanka.
Australia’s road has been slippery in recent times and if only one of the teams could create a little oil spill, perhaps Australia, even with the confidence regained, will find the road hard to handle. The key is not so much what Australia do but what other teams do to topple, as was seen in England.
Warm Up See Injuries to Gibbs, Younis, NZ, SL, WI Struggle
Champions Trophy Promises Runs, New Winner Perhaps?
Smith Suggests Changes, Helps AIDS Campaign
South Africa Seethe Over ICC Awards OverSight
ICC Keeps Back Door Open for West Indies for ICC Champions Trophy
Afridi, Pak Vice Captain, May Quit Depending on ICC Champions Trophy Result
WICB Violating ICC, Claims FICA
Fifty Over Game Draws Reflections from International Cricketers
No Changes to Tests, ODIs, says Lorgat
ICC Awards Nomination Is a Who’s Who of Cricket
ECB Stirs a Hornet’s Nest With Proposal Against 50 Over Game to ICC, SA More Drastic
Bond Named in New Zealand’s ICC Champions Trophy
Matthew Hayden calls for Uniform Calendar, IPL Instead of ICC Champions Trophy
Australia Announce ICC Champions Trophy Squad with Brett Lee
Flintoff’s Knee Surgery To Keep Him Out for a Year
No KP for ICC Champions Trophy; Flintoff to Play Big Part
Champions Trophy- Edition Through the Ages
ICC Takes Champions Trophy out of Pakistan; Stalwarts Moan
ICC Champions Trophy: The Stakes Just Went Higher
India to Undergo Training Camp before ICC Champions Trophy
