Team Australia at World Cup

Team Australia at World Cup

Team Australia at World Cup

Only the foolish would write off the defending world champions. Ricky Ponting's men may have taken a battering at the hands of England in the Australian summer, but there is something about World Cups that just galvanises the men from Down Under. The situation was similar going into the 2007 World Cup and not many gave Australia a chance, but they proved their critics wrong en route a third successive World Cup. This time around they are beset by injuries and loss of form, but expect them to turn up like world champions when the show begins.

Ricky Ponting/ Captain

Ponting's struggles with the bat have coincided with what is probably the worst form Australia have endured under him. But Ponting has stared his demons in the face before and come out stronger. No one would expect more from Ponting than the man himself. He has set high standards for himself throughout his career and what a career it has been. 13,000-plus runs in ODIs with 29 hundreds including a World Cup ton that deflated an on-the-move Indian team in the 2003 final. That hundred was the highlight of the tournament and one wouldn't put it beyond Ponting to reignite that hunger.u00a0

The bigger task at hand for the skipper is to pull his team together. They might be ragged and a little bit inexperienced, but still can slug it out with the best. Retaining the World Cup just might be the biggest challenge of Ponting's career and could be the perfect end to it.u00a0

Shane Watson

A promising all-round career has been hampered often by injury, but Watson always returns stronger. Over 3000 runs and 121 wickets in 118 matches is no small feat and a confident and fit Watson allows Australia the option of going with a specialist spinner without compromising on bowling quality. His superb form in the first IPL should hold him in good stead on Indian wickets.u00a0

Doug Bollinger

Bollinger announced himself as one of Australia's best fast bowlers in the Test arena, but has shown himself to be a crucial part of the ODI squad as well. Since his debut in Abu Dhabi, he has picked up 43 wickets in 27 matches and is the most likeable guy in the Australian squad. He also has experience of playing in the subcontinent during his stint in the IPL, where he starred for his Chennai team.u00a0

Michael Clarke

Clarke's panache and maturity has stood out since a young age. His ODI progress is near-astonishing (nearly 6000 runs in under 200 matches) and has a healthy habit of picking up crucial wickets. He thrives on pressure and though not the quickest of run-getters, he has become a middleorder mainstay for the Aussies after weathering a rough patch.u00a0

Cameron White

Nobody understood the buzz about Cameron White when he first entered the team, but the big-built all-rounder soon was in the limelight with powerful fifties and two matchwinning hundreds. He has the potential to be a superb all-rounder and is indeed picked in the XI as one, but has yet to electrify with his bowling. He is, however, an outstanding fielder.u00a0

Michael Hussey

Hussey may have scored only two ODI tons in a seven-year career, but it is his 50s and 60s that really make a difference. Hussey is the go-to man for his team when they need to resurrect their innings. And Australia's debt to him for match-winning innings keeps piling on. Hopefully, injury won't keep him out of World Cup action. A brilliant player under pressure, it is next to impossible to get a set Hussey out.u00a0

Brett Lee

He may have had to sacrifice pace to extend his injury-prone career, but Brett Lee is still quite dangerous thanks to years of experience (326 wickets in 187 matches) and ability to still get the odd ball to zip. He is particularly threatening when he is bowling in swing-friendly conditions and can score quick runs in a last-ditch effort to win games.u00a0

WC Record
With four World Cups, Australia is the most successful team.u00a0
1975u00a0- Runners up. Lost to West Indies.
1979 -u00a0Exited in the first round.
1983 -u00a0Exited in the first round.
1987 -u00a0Won their first World Cup, defeating England.u00a0
1992 -u00a0Missed out on semi-final spot.u00a0
1996 -u00a0Runnersup. Lost to Sri Lanka.u00a0
1999 -u00a0Winners, beating Pakistan.u00a0
2003 -u00a0Winners, beating India.u00a0
2007 -u00a0Winners, beating Sri Lanka.u00a0

Follow Australiau00a0

Feb 21 VS Zimbabwe
Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

Feb 25 VS New Zealand
Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpuru00a0

Mar 5 VS Sri Lanka
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Mar 13 VS Kenya
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangaloreu00a0

Mar 16 VS Canada
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangaloreu00a0

Mar 19 VS Pakistan
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.