India and Australia will be involved in a tough match as they play their first super eight stage match of the T20 World Cup tonight at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Both teams are evenly balanced, so it would be very difficult to choose a favourite between the two.
AUSTRALIA HAS almost won everything in
world cricket but the
T20 World Cup is still something, which is not present in their cabinet of trophies. The Australian team is more than eager to lift the T20 World Cup, which they have failed to clinch in the past three tries. Their route to the title is not going to be an easy one as they have been pitted in a strong group comprising of Pakistan, South Africa and India. The Aussies are going to be playing their first super eight game against India, the 2007 T20 World Cup champions. If the Aussies are looking for their first T20 World Cup, the Indian team also wants to be the first team in the history of the T20 World Cup to win it twice. So they have lots to play for.
India did not have an impressive game against the Afghanistan side in spite of winning the game. Though, it was in the second game against the Englishmen that
India showed what they are capable of when playing in top form. They came up with an impressive performance even with some important players being rested, which was a good sign for the Indian team. But, when the Indian team plays against the Australian side, the bowling, which has been India's weak link needs to improve, else batsmen such as David Warner,
Shane Watson, Cameron White, and Michael Hussey, etc., will thrash the Indian bowlers. How long can we depend upon the Indian batsmen to register victories for the Indian team?
The Aussies started the competition on a good note with victories against West Indies and Ireland. They have a good line up of fast bowlers which includes Shane Watson, M. Starc, P. Cummins, etc., to take wickets at regular intervals. Sehwag's role in the initial overs of the match holds great importance, as the Aussies would be eager to take his wicket early, else the Indian team could get to a flying start, which the Aussies would want to avoid, especially with the strong middle order. Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni can later on then attack the bowlers if Sehwag gets going.
We may see the Indian team play with five bowlers this time around to lend a fine balance between the bat and the ball. That is what MS Dhoni suggested in the press conference. But the bigger question remains - which batsmen will be left out of the team. Though, it is still unclear as to how many spinners would be included in the starting 11 later tonight.
The excitement level of any India-Australia match is very high in India, as they have been constantly fighting it out for the title of the best team in the world in other formats of the game as well. So one can expect both teams to come out all guns blazing and play top-class T20 cricket.
