World Cup Grand Final - Australia vs Sri Lanka at Bridgetown
Well, after seven weeks of cricket, we have reached the match that everyone has been waiting for. Australia take on Sri Lanka in what promises to be an absolute cracking game. Australia have been on fire throughout the tournament and Sri Lanka have played some very good cricket also and it all boils down to this final game.
Sri Lanka will be bringing back their big guns, Muraliatharan and Vaas in the hope they'll be able to stop the Australian batsmen from getting out of control. We know now that Dilhara Fernando has been dropped and either Farveez Maharoof or Nuwan Kulasekara will come in for him. It will definitely be a pace bowler, I'm tipping Maharoof. The Aussies should go into the match unchanged after a truly lethal performance in the semi-final against South Africa. They destroyed the South African top order and knocked off the runs with ease.
Sri Lanka too go into the game with good form, they lost to Australia in the Super Eight stage of the tournament but they have played very good cricket outside of that game including an 81-run thrashing of New Zealand in the first semi-final. Sri Lanka will be hoping that Vaas and Muraliatharan carry their excellent bowling form throughout the tournament into this game. If they are to win the match, they will need to take wickets and keep the runs down.
But, we must not forget one Australian man, Glenn McGrath. McGrath is playing in his final international game and has been an outstanding servant to Australian cricket for his entire career. He has retired from tests and this will be his final One-Day International game and also his 250th in total. McGrath too has been bowling beautifully and it is hard to think that this is his final match despite playing so well of late. Australia will be dead keen to send him out on top, with another World Cup title. Can McGrath play another blinder in his farewell game?
All will be revealed tomorrow, today or Sunday wherever you live in the world. This promises to be an absolute belter of a match, let's hope that it lives up to expectation and showcases a World Cup Final to remember!!
Australian XI (probable): Adam Gilchrist+, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting*, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath
Sri Lankan XI (probable): Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara+, Mehela Jayawardene*, Chamara Silva, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof
Game starts at 9:30pm AWST (9:30am local time, 1:30pm GMT).
Well, after seven weeks of cricket, we have reached the match that everyone has been waiting for. Australia take on Sri Lanka in what promises to be an absolute cracking game. Australia have been on fire throughout the tournament and Sri Lanka have played some very good cricket also and it all boils down to this final game.
Sri Lanka will be bringing back their big guns, Muraliatharan and Vaas in the hope they'll be able to stop the Australian batsmen from getting out of control. We know now that Dilhara Fernando has been dropped and either Farveez Maharoof or Nuwan Kulasekara will come in for him. It will definitely be a pace bowler, I'm tipping Maharoof. The Aussies should go into the match unchanged after a truly lethal performance in the semi-final against South Africa. They destroyed the South African top order and knocked off the runs with ease.
Sri Lanka too go into the game with good form, they lost to Australia in the Super Eight stage of the tournament but they have played very good cricket outside of that game including an 81-run thrashing of New Zealand in the first semi-final. Sri Lanka will be hoping that Vaas and Muraliatharan carry their excellent bowling form throughout the tournament into this game. If they are to win the match, they will need to take wickets and keep the runs down.
But, we must not forget one Australian man, Glenn McGrath. McGrath is playing in his final international game and has been an outstanding servant to Australian cricket for his entire career. He has retired from tests and this will be his final One-Day International game and also his 250th in total. McGrath too has been bowling beautifully and it is hard to think that this is his final match despite playing so well of late. Australia will be dead keen to send him out on top, with another World Cup title. Can McGrath play another blinder in his farewell game?
All will be revealed tomorrow, today or Sunday wherever you live in the world. This promises to be an absolute belter of a match, let's hope that it lives up to expectation and showcases a World Cup Final to remember!!
Australian XI (probable): Adam Gilchrist+, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting*, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath
Sri Lankan XI (probable): Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara+, Mehela Jayawardene*, Chamara Silva, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof
Game starts at 9:30pm AWST (9:30am local time, 1:30pm GMT).
