http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752: SWOT analysis of the Australian and Kenyan batsmen - Part 1
Australia and Kenya are all set to face each other in a Group A match in Bangalore. Both teams will battle it out, as the ICC World Cup 2011 group stage is winding down. The wicket at the venue has proved to be a batting heaven, as a big total is expected
on the board.
Australia’s batting line-up includes Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clark-c51118 and Michael Hussey.
Shane Watson is a talented and powerful batsman at the top order. The 29-year-old batsman is a brutal stroke-player with an ability to turn the game single handedly. With aggressive drives and pull shots, Watson’s biggest strength is his confidence to perform
on big occasions. The all-rounder is a bit weak with his temperament, as he has showed his habit of getting out as he tried to play a little too aggressively. Kenya has no prominent new ball bowling attack and that is Watson’s biggest opportunity to score
a huge innings.
Watson is in a good form as he has scored a half-century each time he got a chance to bat in this World Cup. A big threat to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 will be the new ball movement, as he is a little weak against in-swinging deliveries.
Ricky Ponting is the most senior player in the current side and that puts a huge responsibility on his shoulders. The Aussie captain is a master of one day international cricket with the ability to dominate pace and spin equally well. With over 13,000 ODI
runs, Ponting is very strong in finding gaps through the fielders. The 36-year-old batsman has a very strong defence, but often gets bowled out while cutting the ball to square of the wicket.
The skipper is not in exceptional form, as he got run out on 28 in Australia’s first match against Zimbabwe and McCullum stumped him on 12 in the Australia-New Zealand contest.
The match against Kenya will be Ponting’s biggest opportunity to get his form back before the big matches in the final rounds of the mega event. His return to form is very important to Australia, as he leads from the front and his confidence can quickly
spread to the rest of the team.
Michael Clark is a clever young cricketer who has grown into a dependable Australian middle-order batsman. He drives the ball towards cover with perfection and his pull shots are just lovely to watch. One of the biggest strengths of Clark is his phenomenal
quick running between the wickets. He has the ability to make runs at ease and anchor the middle part of the innings to build valuable partnerships. The vice-captain has not been in good form recently and that is putting a lot of strain on the team dynamics
of Australia.
Clark got some of his classy touch back by scoring a half century against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045. A game against Kenya is the perfect occasion for him to turn his fifties into hundreds.
Michael Hussey has just joined the Australian World Cup squad, as he is a man of crisis and a true match winner. With his ability to nudge the ball around, Hussey can also hit big sixes when needed. The 35-year-old left-hander has showed his skill of playing
the role of an anchor in the innings and that is Hussey’s biggest strength.
Hussey is returning after an injury and to prove his fitness will be his biggest test. He can use this game as an opportunity to have some match practice before the big games.
To be continued in Part 2.
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