Aussies aim for Indian throats in quarterfinal
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 4:43 PM
India
go into their World Cup quarter-final against champions Australia on
Thursday expecting to be on the receiving end of some fiery fast
bowling.
The co-hosts go into this game on the back of an 80-run victory over the West Indies in Chennai.
Australia's previous match saw the end of their 34-game unbeaten World
Cup run courtesy of a four-wicket defeat by fellow quarter-finalists
Pakistan.
However, the way West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul took five wickets,
including the prize scalp of Sachin Tendulkar with a lifting delivery,
has revived the debate about India's ability to handle short-pitched
bowling.
Australia almost have no choice but to see if the old cliche holds true
given an attack built around the fast bowling trio of Brett Lee, Shaun
Tait and Mitchell Johnson.
Off-spinner Jason Krejza managed just a lone wicket against Pakistan --
courtesy of a ludicrous slog by skipper Shahid Afridi -- and has taken
only two top six wickets in six matches.
And the fact Australia captain Ricky Ponting did not bowl Steven Smith
at all in defence of an under-strength total of 176, spoke volumes about
his faith in the all-rounder's leg-spin.
Yuvraj Singh, whose century against the West Indies followed on from a
trio of fifties earlier in the tournament, said it was clear where
Australia's bowling strength lay.
"They have pace and get wickets with pace. We have to be prepared for it and we'll see what happens in the quarter-final."
Yuvraj, also a handy left-arm spinner, said it was a myth India batsmen
were especially vulnerable when the fast bowlers dug the ball in.
"I don't think there's an issue with the short ball. If you have an
issue with the short ball you won't be the number one Test team and
number two ODI (one-day international) team in the rankings."
Ponting goes into the match with his position as captain in doubt.
The Sydney Morning Herald claimed on Tuesday that there was stiff
opposition at boardroom level to the 36-year-old retaining the job for
next month's tour of Bangladesh, although his position as a player was
not in jeopardy.
"We need to be looking at the future. It's time for us to make a change," the newspaper quoted the official as saying.
Ahead of the World Cup, Ponting earned the dubious distinction of
becoming the only Australian skipper to fail to win the Ashes three
times, putting him under enormous pressure.
He has also done himself no favours in India, taking a reprimand from
the ICC after smashing a dressing-room TV in a fit of fury after being
run out during Australia's World Cup win over Zimbabwe.
He was also criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with Smith during their victory over Canada.
Then his sportsmanship was questioned when he failed to walk in Saturday's defeat to Pakistan.
India, who beat Australia by 38 runs in a warm-up match in Bangalore,
have got themselves into several good position this tournament only for
their batsmen to throw it away.
For example nine wickets were lost for 29 runs in defeat by South Africa while seven went for 50 runs against the West Indies.
But if fast-scoring opener Virender Sehwag, set to return from a knee injury, gets going the middle-order may not be an issue.
Australia have batting problems of their own with both Cameron White and
Ponting, who scored a blistering century in the 2003 World Cup final
win over India in Johannesburg, struggling for runs.
Ponting managed just 102 runs at 20.40 in six Group A matches and the
36-year-old hasn't made an international century for 13 months.
