World cup 2007: Review of Cricket Teams - Australia

About Australian Cricket team

The Australian cricket team, together with the English cricket team, is the joint oldest team in Test cricket having played its first Test match in 1877. Australia is a leading international one day team having won 381 of the 625 One Day Internationals it has played against other countries. Australia won the Cricket World Cup in 1987, 1999 and 2003 (and is the only Nation to have won the World Cup 3 times) and were heading the ICC One Day International Championship table till February 18th 2007 since the rating were introduced in 2003. The one-day team will be known as the "Commonwealth Bank one-day international team" following a three year deal between Cricket Australia and the Commonwealth Bank. The name change comes into effect in the 2006-07 Commonwealth Bank Tri-series.

History of Australian Cricket Team

The History of the Australian cricket team is rich and diverse. Together with the English cricket team, it participated in the first Test match in 1877. The early highlight of Australia's early history was the 1882 test match against England at the Oval. In this match Fred Spofforth took 7/44 in the last innings to save the match by preventing England from making their 85 run target. After this match The Sporting Times, a major newspaper in London at the time printed a mock obituary in which the death of English cricket was proclaimed and "the body was cremated and the ashes taken to Australia." This was the start of the famous Ashes series in which every two years Australia and England play a number of matches to decide the holder of the Ashes. This is, to this day, one of the fiercest rivalries in sport.

In the first half century or so these contests were generally friendly but competitive with both sides enjoying the visit to another country, and getting to play against quality cricketers. The famous Bodyline series temporarily changed things. The series was marred by the tactics used by the English captain Douglas Jardine to control the batting of Don Bradman who completely destroyed the English bowling attack in the 1930 series. Jardine used his fast bowlers to bowl 6 bouncers an over at head height over leg stump with 6 or 7 fielders around the leg stump in a close catching position. Given the fact that there were no helmets around at the time the tactics were widely condemned by nearly all of Australia including many former Test cricketers and important politicians.

Recent Form

Till February 2nd 2007 things were as usual, Aussies were winning easily and the record was staying intact. England defended a target of 296 and Aussies couldnt chase it. After that they lost the CB finals in 2 games (may be for the first time) and recently concluded Chappell Hadlee Trophy where the New Zealand were whitewashed and for the 1st time in history they lost by 10 wickets in ODI. Injury worries are not helping either as Hayden the latest inclusion to the list of injured players fractured his big Toe in the last game with Lee (ankle), Symonds (Right Biceps), Clarke (Hip) & Ponting (Back) the others. Ponting is sure of making it to the WC and leading the pack again to try & put things back in order. Michael Clarke too would be fine but Symonds, Lee & Hayden a big doubt. They were “Red hot Favorites” till January end but now go as only “Favorites” as no team can count them out even after the dismal performance in there last 5 ODIs.

Records

Held the No 1 Rank in ICC cricket ratings since it was started till February 16th 2007 when the lost the series against New Zeland.

Australia is a leading international one day team having won 381 of the 625 One Day Internationals.

Highest team total: 434 vs SA at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
Lowest Total: 70 (twice) vs New Zeland at Adelaide 85/86 & vs England at Birmingham in 1977.

Overall ODI Record

P	W	L	T	NR	%	HS	LS	MC	LC	BatAv	BowAv	R/6b	C/6b
648	395	227	8	18.63%	434	70	438	45	33.2	26.4	4.78	4.46

Highest Individual Score

181* M Hayden v New Zealand at Hamilton, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, 2006/07

Best Bowling Figure

7/15 G McGrath v Namibia at Potchefstroom, World Cup, 2002/03 The World Cup 2007 Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchel Johnson, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson

Players to Watch:

Ponting, Gilchrist, Hussey, McGrath. To name a few mentioning it the whole team is to watch out for.

World Cup Group A

South Africa
Netherlands
Scotland

World Cup 2007 like results

They will make it to Super 8 with ease. But the recent slump they have had will make it a bit difficult for them to make it to the semis. They should reach the last 4 and may be even finals but there no certainty about it this time. As said early they are now just “Favorites” and not “Red Hot Favorites” to defend there title.

Other teams
Test playing Nations : India | Pakistan | West Indies | Sri Lanka | New Zealand | South Africa | England | Australia
Non test playing Nations : Canada | Bermuda | Scotland | Zimbabwe | Kenya | The Netherlands | Ireland | Bangladesh
Who will win Cricket world cup 2007?