Australia vs. Kenya: a David vs. Goliath scenario - ICC World Cup 2011 Preview
After losing to lightweights http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. The David vs. Goliath match will take place today at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, India. This will be the 31st
match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011, which is being hosted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
The Australians are the only team to have won all their World Cup matches since the final in 1999. This means that they are unbeaten in 32 matches on the trot. With this impeccable record, the Aussies will certainly be going into this fixture with full zeal
to come out victorious. Even though some believe that Australia is no longer the invincible team that they once were, there is no denying the fact that they are the clear favourites for this match.
Australia’s form in this World Cup is unmatched and with the recall of their ace middle order batsman Michael Hussey, their batting line-up has certainly received a boost.
Nonetheless, it is their bowling that the Kenyans will need to worry about. The pace attack of the Australians is going to be a big task for the minnows to play against without getting bowled out before their 50-overs. The likes of veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419, flamboyant
Shaun Tait and consistent Mitchell Johnson will most likely aim to rip through the weak batting defences of the East African minnows.
Speaking on the Aussie pace attack, the Kenyan batsman Seren Waters said, “I don't think there is another attack in the world comparable to that. They've got three of the quickest bowlers in the world and they're coming one after the other, so there's no
real respite. It's going to be an experience.” This comment clearly reflects that the Kenyans are wary of what they are going to be up against.
The Kenyan skipper Jimmy Kamande will have an uphill task in front of him to encourage his boys to give the Aussies a good fight to make the competition a little competitive and prove to Ricky Ponting that minnow teams do deserve to be in the World Cup.
Ponting is an adamant supporter of the exclusion of non-Test teams from the next tournament.
Pitch and Playing Conditions
According to reports from Bangalore the pitch is ideal to bat on. Three matches have been played on this wicket so far and on two occasions both teams have gone passed 300 runs. The weather report suggests a cloudless sunny sky with normal humidity.
Players to watch out for
If Australia decides to play Michael Hussey in this game, it will be a batting paradise for him and it will be a perfect situation for him to prove his recall. If he gets going on this wicket, he will unleash a hurricane on the Kenyans.
From the Kenyan side, Steve Tikolo is the player who has the ability to trouble the Aussies, as he is an experienced player in the team which consists of relatively young and inexperienced individuals. The right-handed middle-order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tanmay-Mishra-c92705
is also a dangerous player to watch out for. He gave a commendable performance against Canada by scoring 51 runs. He will be hoping for a similar innings against Australia.
Australia (probable XI)
1. Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598, 8. Mitchell Johnson, 9. Brett Lee, 10. Jason Krejza, 11. Shaun Tait
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752: (probable XI)
1. Maurice Ouma (wk), 2. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Elijah-Otieno-c55866.
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