2007 Cricket World Cup Squad Preview - Australia
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by user Alex Holowczak
| 2007 Cricket World Cup | |
| Australia | |
| Bangladesh | |
| Bermuda | |
| Canada | |
| England | |
| India | |
| Ireland | |
| Kenya | |
| Netherlands | |
| New Zealand | |
| Pakistan | |
| Scotland | |
| South Africa | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| West Indies | |
| Zimbabwe | |
Australia are the defending World Champions. They also won in 1999. They lost in the 1996 Final. For the last 11 years they have been the team to beat. And it is no different this time around.
They are drawn in Group A along with South Africa, the Netherlands and Scotland. It should be a given that Australia win the group and get to the Semi Finals, but South Africa could provide some quality opposition in the opening group round.
Ricky Ponting
Type: Batsman, Captain
Ponting is one of the world’s elite batsmen. The best in terms of average, he will be a crucial batsman in this competition. His captaincy has been criticised, but he won’t let his team down with the bat.
Nathan Bracken
Type: Bowler
One of the top One Day bowlers in the world, and a fairly useful slugger late on, Bracken could be a key seamer in this tournament. Will need to be at his best if Australia are to do well.
Michael Clarke
Type: All Rounder
Clarke has become one of the top One Day batsmen, and is also a useful slow bowler in the middle of an innings. Looks set to play a major role.
Adam Gilchrist
Type: Batsman (opener), Wicketkeeper
Gilchrist is sent in as an opener in One Day cricket to blast away from the start. One of the best attacking batsmen in the game. Will miss the first match due to the birth of his child.
Brad Haddin
Type: Batsman, Wicketkeeper
Haddin will have a chance as he will keep wicket in the opening game of the tournament. It just depends on how well he takes his chance. Great batsman.
Matthew Hayden
Type: Batsman (opener)
One of the top batsmen in the world, Hayden could be a star of the tournament. He has become a regular at the top of the Australian One Day order with the retirement of Justin Langer.
Brad Hodge
Type: Batsman
Hodge was only just picked for this team, and he is unlikely to play unless needed. I would have picked Phil Jaques in ahead of him personally.
Brad Hogg
Type: All Rounder
A useful is not inspiring player, Hogg is a useful addition to the Australian side.
Michael Hussey
Type: Batsman
Hussey is the best player in the Australian middle order. At Number 6, he is the best in the world.
Mitchell Johnson
Type: Bowler
Surprise late inclusion at Stuart Clark’s expense. Unproven at intenational level, he is in with a chance of playing early on. He will compete with Shaun Tait for a place. Could be a useful late order hitter.
Brett Lee
Type: Bowler
Usually only classified as a bowler, his good late order batting. His fast bowling will likely do the most damage however.
Glenn McGrath
Type: Bowler
The best bowler of the last decade will bow out after this tournament, although his ability is slightly diminished, he will still be tough to beat.
Andrew Symonds
Type: All Rounder
A great One Day bat for the Aussies, he is also a useful bowler. As a spinner, it may make him a key part of the side in this World Cup. He has an injury at present, but should be fit for the South Africa match, and the latest of the Super Eight stage.
Shaun Tait
Type: Bowler
Been poor at International level so far, but his raw pace got him into the squad ahead of Stuart Clark. Bewildering choice, but it could lead to exciting results.
Shane Watson
Type: All Rounder
A batting all rounder, Watson hasn’t fulfilled his first class promise into International cricket, but I think he is one of the best young talents around. His bowling is useful, rather than explosive, but he could play a crucial role in the balance of the Australian team.
Strengths
- Ponting is a class batsman
- Defending World Champions
- Aura of invincibility
- Gilchrist is the most feared keeper-batsman in the world
- Great depth of talent in the batting
Weaknesses
- Ponting’s captaincy
- Aging side
- Questions after losing three games in a row to England
- Selection – omission of Stuart Clark, for example
Verdict
I don’t think Australia will win the World Cup. They are the Number 1 team in the world, but I think that players like McGrath could be found out on pitches that suit fast bowling. I also think that Tait is a wayward inclusion. There is undoubtably the talent in Shane Watson, Gilchrist, Hussey and Ponting to get them down to the latter stages, but I can’t see them getting the better of India, for instance. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did win, but I don’t make them favourites. They are expected to win, but they haven’t the ability they had four years ago – and rivals like India have got stronger. The bowling may not be strong enough.
