LIONS then DAYLIGHT
Banned
Your thoughts on Australia.. with a view to the Ashes and the World Cup
How are we tracking?
In the ODI format we have been performing well, when this time last year it looked ordinary, especially after a 7-3 combined loss against SA in the ODI series played at and away.
Let's look at the opposition.
England (Away) 6-1: Always good belting England, especially when Botham is on air, but the reality is England are a ordinary ODI team.
India (Away) 4-2: A great achievement especially considering the injuries that hit the team on that tour. However, India's bowling is weak with medium pacers leading the attack.
Pakistan and West Indies (Home) Undefeated: Pakistan are a decent ODI side under the right conditions but the bounce and pace in Australia was always going to be too much for them. The West Indies were hit hard by injury, at full strength they are a decent ODI team. Hard to read to much into this.
V New Zealand: Trail 1-0 with 4 to play.
For some reason we have struggled in New Zealand of late, we have lost our last 5 games there against NZ - most significantly, the 3-0 loss in 2007 prior to the WC.
How are we tracking?
In the ODI format we have been performing well, when this time last year it looked ordinary, especially after a 7-3 combined loss against SA in the ODI series played at and away.
Let's look at the opposition.
England (Away) 6-1: Always good belting England, especially when Botham is on air, but the reality is England are a ordinary ODI team.
India (Away) 4-2: A great achievement especially considering the injuries that hit the team on that tour. However, India's bowling is weak with medium pacers leading the attack.
Pakistan and West Indies (Home) Undefeated: Pakistan are a decent ODI side under the right conditions but the bounce and pace in Australia was always going to be too much for them. The West Indies were hit hard by injury, at full strength they are a decent ODI team. Hard to read to much into this.
V New Zealand: Trail 1-0 with 4 to play.
For some reason we have struggled in New Zealand of late, we have lost our last 5 games there against NZ - most significantly, the 3-0 loss in 2007 prior to the WC.