Sun, 13 Mar 2011 - Australia vs Kenya, World Cup 2011, 31st match Group A - Preview

After getting a humiliating drubbing at the hands of England in the Ashes, people started to write Australia off and termed the loss as beginning of the Australian fall.  Australia, however, put those theories and prediction to the rest by rolling past England in the ODI series down under that it won by a huge margin of 6-1.

They answered their critics in the emphatic fashion and have carried their terrific limited overs into the world cup as well. They look a side on mission with their pace battery crushing New Zealand and Zimbabwe and had to contend with one point in their game against Sri Lanka as rain played a spoilsport in what would have been a cracker of a contest.

Australia have already made it clear that there will be playing their best eleven even against Kenya that only show how determined Australian team is to defend the title.

Kenya, as it appears, are in for another thrashing as they have displayed poor performances one after another in the tournament. The current team is hardly a match to the side that played in 2003 edition and looks unsettled, lacking will and desire to fight, succumbing meekly in all four games they played.

The skill levels have gone down, senior players like Steve Tikolo and Thomos Odoyo, it appears, don’t play with same intensity as they would do in their hey days and youngsters seem to have bogged down by the might of big teams.

Sunday’s encounter at Bangalore should also turn out to be one side affair. Kenya, however, would be keen to avoid that.

The pitch at Bangalore has been full of runs and another run fest is on cards.

Australia

Openers have looked in a decent form but middle order is yet to be tested. With Kenya as opponent, there is a case for promoting some of batsmen in the batting order to give them some time in the middle before the big games.

Ricky Ponting is yet to get his touch back but it will be Michael Hussey, getting a surprise recall after Doug Bollinger’s injury, who will be under spotlight. It would be interesting to see whether he will be drafted in the playing eleven straight eleven or will have to wait for it.

Fast bowling unit has looked in a red hot form and have looked to attack the opponent batsmen right from the word go.

Off-spinner Jason Krejza has bowled well but hasn’t much to show in the wickets column. With less skilled Kenyan batsmen to bowl against, he might add few to the wicket column.

Squad:  Ricky Ponting (Capt), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Callum Ferguson, David Hussey, Cameron White, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Michael Hussey 

Coach: Tim Neilson

Kenya

There aren’t many good things one can say about this Kenya side. Australia encounter might be a chance for embattled side to redeem themselves.

Senior players need to put their hand up and come up with some inspiring performances that can lift the side.

Youngsters will be keen to forget their dismal show in the tournament and tell the world that they belong to the league. That can only happen if they apply themselves and get their basics right.

Squad:Jimmy Kammande  (Capt),Tanmay Mishra, Rakep Patel, James Oteino, Steve Tikolo, Thomas Odoyo, Collins Obuya, Peter Ongonda, Morris Ouma, David Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Shem Ngoche, Seren Waters, Elijah Oteino and Alex Obanda.

Coach: Eldine Baptiste