Australia will start favourite to win their ICC Cricket World Cup quarterfinal against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on Friday not only because they have the team with the better all-round strength but also because there is a hint of fragility about the batting unit in Misbah-ul-Haq's team. Curiously, Australia captain Michael Clarke expects a wonderful, entertaining game.
Yet, Australia captain Michael Clarke, thought to be beleaguered at the start of the World Cup because of his runs-in with selectors and Cricket Australia officials but seeming to be well in control of the leadership, said his team will have to play their best cricket on Friday to beat Pakistan. "I don't think you're ever owed anything in this game of cricket," he said.
"It's been a long tournament. It's been a really good tournament for the game of cricket. I think everybody's at a stage now where it's been building and building and everybody's really excited that we're finally here. Your No. 1 goal is to make it to the quarterfinals. When you get here, you look forward to that big stage and playing against the best," Clarke said.
"I think Pakistan have been underrated for a long time, especially in the shorter form of the game. I think they've got a lot of talent. I think they're attack is very good and they've shown that throughout this series. I think they've got a good mix of youth and experience and their batting really well, and they're led well from Misbah," Clarke said.
With a batting unit that includes explosive openers David Warner and Aaron Finch, the incredibly talented Steve Smith, Clarke himself and allrounders Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell, Australia can be expected to handle the challenge of the Pakistan pace bowlers, led by Wahab Riaz, who has surprised out many batsmen with his pace and skiddy bounce.
Even though left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson has not been their spearhead ceding that spot to the deadly Mitchell Starc Australia have the attack to keep the Pakistan batsmen in check. Sarfraz Ahmed has infused vim and vigour in the Pakistan batting but, as skipper Misbah-ul-Haq pointed out, it is important for them to not lose too many wickets at the start.
Misbah also said his team believed in itself, drawing strength from the fact that favourites do not always have to win games. "The team that performs better on a day, has better chances, better luck, can really defeat any team. We are hopeful and very positive. I think we've got a bowling line-up which can really go through any team, and a few batters just getting back into form. This is only a matter of just putting a good show on that day," he said.
Yet, viewed dispassionately, Australia will have to contribute to their own downfall but by the looks of it, Clarke's team is not ready to drop its intensity yet. "Tomorrow will be a tough challenge and I believe we have to be at our best to beat them," Clarke reiterated, but Pakistan will have to find a magical batting show to stop Australia from going to the Sydney.
The teams:
Australia (from): Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin (wicket-keeper), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Geroge Bailey and Xavier Doherty.
Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan, Sohain Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Aahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah, Nasir Jamshed and Ehsan Adil.
