Australia's World Cup Thread

[Quagmire]

Just looking at the injurys that the Australian side has had over the season with Watson breaking down before the ashes series which gave life to Symonds test career, Lee missing the world cup due to an ankle injury, Symonds on the road to recovery for the South African game, and Hayden breaking his toe during his massive 181*. Along with Ponting's back injury, Michael Clarke's hip injury. This has caused Australia to lose there number 1 ranking in ODI cricket, but now the world cup is coming around once again and Australia are still favourites and looking to win there third World Cup in a row and there fourth overall.

Most likely team for the first WC match vs Scotland

Australia (probable) 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Brad Hodge, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Shane Watson, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Glenn McGrath, 11 Shaun Tait.

With Symonds to come back into the side, it is quite a good side probablythe best on paper, Hogg and Clark could switch around due to the conditions. Tait showed in the England game what he is capable of doing and thats bowling reverse swing fast and full which gets him lots of wickets at the death.

Good Performances so far in WC tour
Tait - 8.3 overs, 4/33 with the wickets of Joyce (LBW), Pietersen (Caught), Mahmood (Bowled), Lewis (Bowled)
Clark - 6 overs, 3/16 with the wickets of Flintoff (Caught), Nixon (Caught Behind), Plunkett (Bowled)
Hogg - 10 overs, 2/28 with the wickets of Vaughan (Caught), Bell (Stumped)
Gilchrist - 72 off 82 balls, 6x4, 1x6
Watson - 55 off 68 balls, 7x4, 1x6
Watson - 81 vs Zim
Clarke - 82 vs Zim
Haddin - 47 vs Zim
McGrath - 5 overs, 1/8 vs Zim
Bracken - 5 overs, 1/8 vs Zim
Clark - 7 overs, 2/33 vs Zim