CWC 2011: Handling Krezja important for Ponting

It would be easy to push the Australian side away as no-hopers in the World Cup given their performance in the warm-ups. It was evident that the Aussies were the second-best team in both the games, to India and South Africa. And yet, the format of the tournament is such that it will allow the Australian side to make a comeback from what seems to be a position of doldrums. It is a matter of momentum and once in the groove, Australia does possess the wherewithal to go the distance.

That said, in both the games, the batting was a worry. More so against the slower bowlers. Cameron White needs to fire and the selectors‚ faith in him can be seen from the fact that he has been selected the captain of the T20 side. David Hussey did not score too many either, but he is vital on the Indian tracks, he usually bats well against spinners and bowls his supporting version of off-spin well enough.

There were a few positive takeaways as well. Ricky Ponting was playing in his first competitive game since hurting his finger at Melbourne last year and came back strongly with a couple of 50s. Then again, a fit Brett Lee showed why the team had missed him so much last year and injuries aside, he will be the one bowler who may actually relish the conditions in India. The Champions League T20 in 2009, will still be fresh in his mind, when he had gone on to bowl New South Wales to a tournament win.

How Jason Krejza goes about his bowling in the World Cup will play a part in no small way for the side’s chances. Looking at him bowl in the warm-ups, there were signs of him being nervous, and how Ponting handles him will be decisive. A word on the Indian team here. Not for nothing has the favourites-tag being bestowed on them. They are playing at home, they have batsmen who can score the runs with a walking stick and spinners to exploit the pitches. They have a batsman who is the greatest in this format ‚ if not in cricket‚ and a captain who can inspire his men to play beyond their already-talented selves.

It will only be a matter of absorbing the pressure of expectations then. No small matter that though!