England Vs Australia T20 World Cup Final Preview
The cricketing rivalry between Australia and England dates back to the 19th century. While the contest on Sunday does not have a Larwood vs Bradman feel to it, it is undoubtedly the biggest stage the two sides have been on for a very long time. Each team has had its share of glory in the past. However, for a major part of the last two decades, Australia has been the dominant side. But the teams have been more evenly matched in recent times. England reclaimed the Ashes in August 2009, but Australia has managed to maintain the upper-hand in the limited overs format. This time around though both the teams are on a roll and there is not much that separates them on paper. Thus, cricket lovers around the world should be witness to a high intensity clash for the ultimate prize in the shortest format of the game.
After the semi-finals in St. Lucia, the action will return to the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The wickets in the previous matches at this venue have been a bit on the bouncier side and something similar will be expected in the final. The boundaries are not the biggest either and hence we could have a high-scoring contest in store.
Barring the semi-final against Pakistan, Australia has virtually steam-rolled every obstacle that has come in their way. They have played the same eleven in each and every match. The players seem to well aware of their respective roles in the team and more often than not, they have successfully come up with what has been expected from them. Hence, the same XI should in all probability walk out to the park to battle for the title.
Australia’s openers, Shane Watson and David Warner, are probably the most destructive opening pair in world cricket. Both of them have the ability to blow away the opposition and if even one of them manages to do that in final, England will be in for a tough time. Skipper, Michael Clarke has been very flexible with the batting line-up. Players have been sent in according to the situation of the game. Brad Haddin has walked out when an early wicket has fallen to keep up with the scoring rate. If spinners are in operation, it has either been Clarke himself or David Hussey coming in. Cameron White has been used more as a dasher to up the ante in the final overs. The silver lining in the batting line-up though has been ‘Mr. Cricket’ Michael Hussey. He has come in at number 7 but is the highest run-getter in this tournament among his fellow countrymen and all that has been achieved at an enviable strike-rate of 176. He has come out in difficult situations and has bailed the team out of trouble each and every time. His 24-ball 60 in the semi-final against Pakistan is one of the finest T20 innings one will ever witness. Australia though will hope that Hussey has saved his best for the last.
Australia have picked up 56 wickets out of a possible 60, the highest in the tournament by a fair distance. The opening pair of Dirk Nannes and Shan Tait have been quick and terrorized most top order batsmen. Except for the semi-final against Pakistan, they have bounced their opponents out of the match and will in all probability be looking to do the same. Mitchell Johnson has not been as furious as Tait or Nannes, but he has conceded runs at a miserly rate of 6.43 per over and has picked up 9 wickets at an average of 13.11 apiece. Not an ordinary effort by any means. The Aussies have struggled to find a suitable replacement for Shane Warne. Nathan Hauritz has got the nod on most occasions. But this time around, a 20-year old by the name of Steven Smith has made himself a regular feature in the side. He has been the second most successful spinner in the tournament and has been among the wickets in each and every match. His shot-making ability in the death overs has been an added advantage. Watson though has not had the best time with the ball. He has been the weakest link in the Aussie attack and England will be looking to go after him.
England has not been among the title contenders in ICC tournaments in recent times. An important factor that has helped them come this far is the fact that just like Australia, they have a very settled line-up. They have got the right combination in the playing XI and have played the same team throughout the tournament, except for a single match where Kevin Pietersen was unavailable.
The opening duo of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter has got the team off to great starts on most occasions. An average score of 50+ in the powerplays, the highest for any team in the tournament, bears testimony to that fact. Pietersen at number 3 is probably playing the best cricket of his career. He has delivered in each of the last 3 matches he has played and if he continues his golden run, we could be in for another thrilling display of stroke-play. Paul Collingwood has not been at his best so far, but with the others around him firing consistently, that hasn’t been much of a problem for England. Collingwood though is one of the gutsiest cricketers around and he is definitely due for a big one. Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright have delivered whenever the top order has struggled. Morgan especially has played a very mature role, steadying the ship when necessary and going after the bowlers along with Wright in the death.
England’s pace trio of Tim Bresnan, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad have been a force to reckon with. The fact the James Anderson has been made to sit in the dug-out speaks volumes about their performance. They have got at least one wicket in the powerplays in each and every match. The Australian openers are among the most powerful strikers of the cricket ball and if the partnership is not broken early, it could spell trouble for the Englishmen. The quicker men have been backed up suitably by the spinners, Graeme Swann and Micheal Yardy. They have excelled in both departments, picking up wickets as well as keeping the runs in check. Australia have some very good players of spin in their middle-order and keeping in mind the shorter boundaries at Barbados, Swann and Yardy will have to be at their best to tie down the Aussies.
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Posted by Ryan
on May 17 2010. Filed under Cricket, T20 World Cup, Top Stories.
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