Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[Ponting_14]

yeaha around about that time and does anyone know when our warm up games are happning?

This is what I could find:

Mar 6: Australia v Zimbabwe - Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent
&
Mar 9: Australia v England - Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent

Not sure about the times tho.

...................................................................................................

Those dates should be moved forward for us by the way. So I guess we're playing Zimbabwe tomorrow morning then.

and England on Sunday.

 

[genghis_khan]

Great pics there!

See the fore-arms on Symonds no wonder he can club it so far.

 

[aussie1st]

Appears McGrath will open the bowling with Bracken. Could be a good move as he hasn't looked the same since moving to first change. Will be interesting seeing how he goes though.

 

[genghis_khan]

If either Clark or Johnson are playing then yes i would go with Bracken/McGrath first up. But if Tait is the third quick i would open with him and Bracken, to utilise whatever swing there may be.

Going to be weird with no Lee, not only his bowling but his batting. Watson, Hogg and Hussey will be under more pressure now, because you could always count on Lee to put up a fight.

 

[Ponting_14]

What time does the Zimbabwe game start tomorrow morning and does anyone have any line-ups? Thanks.



Well I have the squads now, but I can't find the time of the game:

Australia squad:
RT Ponting, NW Bracken, SR Clark, MJ Clarke, AC Gilchrist, BJ Haddin, ML Hayden, BJ Hodge, GB Hogg, MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, GD McGrath, A Symonds, SW Tait, SR Watson


Zimbabwe squad:
P Utseya, GB Brent, CJ Chibhabha, E Chigumbura, KM Dabengwa, T Duffin, AJ Ireland, F Kasteni, S Matsikenyeri, CB Mpofu, T Mupariwa, EC Rainsford, V Sibanda, BRM Taylor, SC Williams



Well I looked around and I can only guess that the game starts at 12:30am. Don't think I'll stay up for this one.

 

[Sagacious]

^ Match will starts 1330 GMT, that means 12.30 am your time

 

[aussie1st]

If either Clark or Johnson are playing then yes i would go with Bracken/McGrath first up. But if Tait is the third quick i would open with him and Bracken, to utilise whatever swing there may be.

Going to be weird with no Lee, not only his bowling but his batting. Watson, Hogg and Hussey will be under more pressure now, because you could always count on Lee to put up a fight.

Maybe McGrath and Tait as Bracken will go fine as 1st change bowler especially with his cutters.

 

[Ponting_14]

Easy win for Australia
SHANE Watson served a reminder of his credentials as an opener as Australia eased to a 106-run victory in a World Cup warm-up match against Zimbabwe today.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21339678-2882,00.html


Fleming goes all-out for Tait
SHAUN Tait is the key to Australia's World Cup success, according to former Australian swing bowler Damien Fleming.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21338297-2882,00.html


Gilchrist won't go slow
ADAM Gilchrist will remain Australia's human wrecking-ball in one-day cricket, despite calls for the opener to temper his aggression.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21338296-2882,00.html


Blewett wants Tait to open
FORMER Test batsman Greg Blewett says Ricky Ponting must give the new ball to young quick Shaun Tait as Australia strives for a third consecutive World Cup.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21340905-2882,00.html



Viv Richards: Aussies toast
SIR Vivian Richards has written off Australia's chances of winning the World Cup.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21341291-2882,00.html

haha Viv bashing Australia, I love it

 

[aussie_ben91]

I have to disagree with Viv. I think our WC squad for '07 is stronger. The bowling is definately stronger from last WC with Warne but the batting is miles ahead.

 

[aussie1st]

Would agree with the Tait opening the bowling calls, if he can control that swing he will be lethal.

 

[kodos]

Australia may be stronger but the rest of the world have caught up. The 03 WC was really only a two horse race b/w India and Australia with Australia playing the best. Aus. batting certainly has improved from the last WC with Clarke and Hussey (mind you Aus. did have Bevan and Lehmann who were both quality batsmans) but their bowling has deteriorated. Lee was at his best in 03, McGrath was still dangerous 4 years ago and Hogg was a half decent bowler 4 years ago. Now McGrath is struggling to find his best, Lee is out, Hogg hasn't been in good touch lately, Clark and Johnson are a mixed bag and Watson is useless with the ball but handy with the bat.

 

[genghis_khan]

Australia may be stronger but the rest of the world have caught up. The 03 WC was really only a two horse race b/w India and Australia with Australia playing the best. Aus. batting certainly has improved from the last WC with Clarke and Hussey (mind you Aus. did have Bevan and Lehmann who were both quality batsmans) but their bowling has deteriorated. Lee was at his best in 03, McGrath was still dangerous 4 years ago and Hogg was a half decent bowler 4 years ago. Now McGrath is struggling to find his best, Lee is out, Hogg hasn't been in good touch lately, Clark and Johnson are a mixed bag and Watson is useless with the ball but handy with the bat.

so kodos...which team will you be supporting in the tournament then?

 

[aussie1st]

Just read the article about the Caribbean pitches taking spin and how the Cup bids of the number 1 and 2 ranked side could turn to mud. In that same article Hogg was again ineffective on a turning pitch. Wish we had SOS Warne.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21343256-23212,00.html

 

[sifter132]

Just read the article about the Caribbean pitches taking spin and how the Cup bids of the number 1 and 2 ranked side could turn to mud. In that same article Hogg was again ineffective on a turning pitch. Wish we had SOS Warne.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21343256-23212,00.html

So this is why Michael Clarke bowled so much during the tri-series. He must be our secret spin weapon. I remember reading about Dene Hills going to the West Indies to get a look at the kind of pitches we'd be playing on to help us plan for the WC and pick the right squad etc. And then we decided 4 quicks was the way to glory?

Although to be fair and to counter argue, I think that this article by Jon Pierik doesn't really give much evidence that spin will be crucial. The only point that might have convinced me was "The issue has been the old, stale soil used in the pitches, which, instead of being replaced, essentially becomes rolled mud". But earlier Ponting mentions that, "We understand a lot of the wickets have been relaid".

We'll be right, don't worry fellas...

 

[lastsoldier]

This is just a quick somewhat related question.

The jerseys that the Australian team is wearing for the warm-up matches, is that the same jersey they will wear for the WC?

If so, is it likely they will be available in stores?

Thanks