Ricky Ponting, Australian Cricket team’s Captain, said quite confidently that his team would defeat the English cricket team easily at the Ashes this season with 5-0. Mc Grath had said something similar about 4 years ago but Ponting may not have said it on the same lines. Ponting said that the Australians team has learned a lot from its own mistakes and feels that it can now achieve results exactly according to their choice. If they make up their mind to win and work towards the game with the same spirit, they will defeat England by 5-0 in the upcoming test series.
Some consider this to be confidence and others think that it is the usual overconfidence that the team has displayed in the past too! Only time will tell whether this attitude of the Captain and the team will take it towards victory, or defeat in the Ashes. Considering that Australia had lost the last match to the England team, with 2-1, and Ponting still assures of his team’s victory in advance sounds like quite a contradiction. The team however, has been working hard after the last match and also performing well.
Their last draw with Pakistan again brought out something to put a doubt on everyone’s minds about whether Australia is capable of defeating England or is it simply being overconfident. Peter Siddle is expected back by the time the first test match approaches, which is scheduled to be played in Gabba. Also, with Brad Haddin, who happens to be their best wicket keeper, the team seems to be in good shape.
Posts Tagged ‘Australia’
Australia Declares To Win The Ashes By 5-0: Confidence Or Overconfidence?
Format Change For Australia
Cricket Australia has been generous enough but only to the general public and not to the players. A 45-over format has been introduced which implies that the only 50 over match that Australia will play will happen on an international level. Fringe members of the World Cup from Cricket Australia are already being considered for private fixtures. A survey for the change of format was conducted among the Australian Cricketers’ Association members and about 78 percent of them did not agree to this idea.
Even Ricky Ponting was not in favor of the change of format that too during the planning stage. The Cricket Australia’s chief executive, James Sutherland had a different point of view. He said that the view of the players plays a significant role but the redesigning of the format does not hinge only on their view. The one day concept has to be re-vitalized so that it gives the game a new dimension. He also said that the game should be played over a period of one year.
A major hurdle that the players face now is the lack of regular 50 over matches. Brown said that for the lack of practice over 50 over format, private matches will be conducted to ensure that they don’t fall short of expectations. Brown also expressed that the split innings will translate into a better strategy. According to the changed format there will be a first match of 20 overs followed by a second match of 25 overs. There will be 12 players with 11 of them fielding and batting, whereas the bowlers will bowl 12 overs only.
