Expectations of failure and success

[Seamer]

As we have seen, not only in the various cricket forums, but in the media as well, a feeling that Australia are finished as a ODI force. After a mainly successful but gruelling summer which including a heavily criticised training schedule set by Buchannan
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003413,00.html
Australia definately has the look af a team worn out and running on empty. Couple that with the spate of injuries Australia have suffered, Australia now have a beatable, vulnerable look about them leading many to question their WC chances.
But lets look at how expectations of Australia's performances have ironed out in the last couple of years.

Australia arrived in England in 2005 as favorites to win the Ashes, but ended up being convincingly defeated.

After the defeat in England, many thought Australia's dad's army were finished as a force and England the new top dogs. The opposite happened with Australia winning their next 15 out of 16 tests, and England struggling to keep their no2 position.

England arrived in Australia with many expecting a close series, but the opposite happened when Australia won 5-0 for the first time in 80 years.

Australia, after cruising through the early rounds of the CB series were expected to comfortably win the finals, but the opposite happened with Australia being routed by England.

Australia then went to New Zealand, and despite notable absences, were expected to play well against a NZ side who had lost every match against Australia the previous month. The opposite happened and NZ routed the Aussies.

Now many are expecting a dismal WC performance from a injury wracked team, apparently bereft of confidence...................

Now we have Greame Smith self declaring his team as favorites, and "promising more pain" for Australia in the world cup.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003413,00.html

Are the Aussies now fearing for their lives in the Carrabean, and dreading the inevitable South African WC victory?

Will the Aussies be sinking into depression and a sense of impending doom from the barbs and criticisms they are currently recieving, or are they being filled with a strong resolve and a willingness to silence the critics?

While the media, and much of the cricketing world are currently revelling in Australia's apparent demise, some commentators, such as Border, Jullian, Flemming and co from the Inside cricket show for example, reckon that the Aussies are secretly quite pleased with the way things are panning out. Most Bookies around the world are not so convinced that Australia are finished too - they are still favorites with the money men.

Will Australia fail dismally at the WC while watching Smith's South Africans justify his self-declared favoritism. Or will the opposite happen.....................?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Are the Aussies now fearing for their lives in the Carrabean, and dreading the inevitable South African WC victory?

It's not the South Africans Australia have to worry about IMO, it's England or New Zealand, South Africa are a bit late in coming to the party Australia laid on for England and New Zealand.

I thought the England selectors are bad, but Australia did themselves no favours IMO in the final of the Tri Nation ODI Trophy, the selections was only second in silliness to the squad Australia sent to New Zealand.

In fact Australia had IMO the attitude the English had after beating Australia in 2005, they thought they were invincible, and should have played their strongest team, so close to the World Cup.

Australia are without doubt the best side, but the top brass have been dumb in allowing both England and New Zealand to build up some sort of momentum, while seeds of self doubt will have been sown, in particular in the unfortunate Hussey - he was let down with the side he was given to captain, like Flintoff.

Australia will probably win the World Cup, but if they don't they can look back to February 2006 for the reason why.

[acker]

Unfortunately Australia has got its self into a position where

Batting : They are probably best in the world, but not by that much ( I rate South Africa 2nd )

Feilding : About mid pack ( England, New Zealand and South Africa are ahead of them )

Bowling : Probably are worst in the world out of the major 8 teams


The reason I think the bowling is currently so poor is because of the past failures of the selectors to chose and blood younger bowlers after the international withdrawal of Reiffel, Flemming, Bichel and Gillespie.

Someone has failed to realise in the selection process that pace bowlers have shorter careers than batsmen, and that unlike the fine wine theory they use with batsman ( the older the vintage the better the taste ) that with bowlers it is more like the open can of beer theory ( the longer you leave it the flatter and more tasteless it becomes )

P.S > I am a believer that this new bigger and better sweet spot technology on cricket bats over the last couple of years is the major reason for this sudden spurt of ultra high totals and run chases. (the ropes also help)
I liken it to the introduction of wider lighter raquets to tennis in the eighties.

[Nostromo]

I think it is way too premature to say thet Australia are 'finished' as an ODI superpower, but they will have their work cut out to retain the title this time. One of the problems is Ponting's lacklustre leadership at ODI level. I think the entire Oz cricketing establishment, players included, concentrated their enegies so much this summer on regaining the Ashes, that they were a bit shoddy in their ODI preparations, that being an entirely different ball game. The situation has not been helped by injuries to Symonds & Lee and somewhat unbalanced team selection. I still feel that the final 15 have one bowler too many and Cameron White should have been chosen ahead of Mitchell Johnson.

If Australia have to stop the likes of South Africa, India or New Zealand, a lot will depend on the experience of Glenn McGrath (a last hurrah?), improvement of Stuart Clark and coming of age of Shaun Tait. I expect Nathan Bracken to do well, but he needs support at the other end.

[darksideofthemoon]

AUSTRALIA'S embattled cricketers have 2.8 million reasons to snap their horror losing stretch.

And every one of those reasons can be deposited straight into their already bulging banking accounts.

The Sun-Herald can reveal the World Cup in the West Indies will carry total prizemoney of $6.3 million, with the winning side pocketing a cool $2.8 million.

Cricket Australia has agreed the prizemoney can be divided equally among the 15 members of the cup squad.

Combined with match payments and bonuses for winning preliminary pool games, each player stands to make almost $200,000 regardless of how many matches they play, if any, in the Caribbean.

One good reason to win