Australia
The reigning ICC CWC, Champions Trophy and Super Series winners
will be looking to add another trophy to their cabinet when
they compete in the ICC World Twenty20 in September.Having performed
outstandingly in the Caribbean, where it didn’t lose a
single match on the way to its third consecutive CWC title earlier
this year, Australia will be the team to beat at the event.
And while some of the old guard, who contributed to Australia’s
success in both the long and short form of the game for so long,
have recently retired, (including Man of the Tournament at the
CWC 2007, Glenn McGrath) there is plenty of batting and bowling
firepower left in the team.
With a batting order that includes CWC 2007 final centurion
Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds
and Michael Hussey, there is no shortage of big hitters. Meanwhile,
the likes of Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken and Brad Hogg also enhanced
their reputations with excellent displays in the West Indies,
and previously-injured Brett Lee, who missed out on the CWC
2007, is itching to get back to international action.
Having played the first ever Twenty20 International match, when
they defeated New Zealand in Auckland in February 2005 thanks
to an unbeaten 98 off 55 balls from Ponting and four wickets
from Michael Kasprowicz, the Australians then suffered a heavy
100-run defeat to England in the build-up to the 2005 Ashes
series.
Australia will see host nation South Africa as one of its main
rivals for the Twenty20 crown and it has had mixed fortunes
against Graeme Smith’s side in this form of the game. In
January 2006 the Australians coasted to a 95-run win over South
Africa at Brisbane, with Damian Martyn top scoring with 96,
but less than two months later they suffered a two-run defeat
in a thrilling match in Johannesburg, where Lee couldn’t
quite manage to hit 19 off the last over for victory.
Australia then gained revenge on England for its defeat at Southampton
in 2005, when it thrashed its arch-rival at Sydney by 77 runs,
posting an incredible 221-5.
Ricky Ponting (capt, 19/12/74)
A tenacious character, successful captain and one of the most recognisable figures in world cricket. One of the best batsmen of all forms of the game, ponting averages an impressive 44.50 in his five twenty20 internationals to date.
Nathan Bracken (12/9/77)
Left-armer who has carved a niche for himself since breaking into the australia team in the 2006 ashes. Took 16 wickets in this year's world cup in the west indies.
Stuart Clark (28/9/75)
The natural heir to glenn mcgrath in the australia set-up with his economical action and nagging accuracy. Made a late start to his international career but has won little but praise since.
Michael Clarke (2/4/81)
His expansive batting should be suited perfectly to twenty20 cricket, though he has never reached 50 in the shortest form of the game. A talented fielder and bowls stifling orthodox left-arm spin.
Adam Gilchrist (14/11/71)
Arguably the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of all time and one of the reasons australia will be favourites to win the tournament. A strike-rate of nearly 100 in odis hints at how destructive he can be.
Brad Haddin (23/10/77)
But for adam gilchrist, haddin would surely have been a regular in australia's one-day side. In attacking intent at least, he is not unlike the man who has kept him out of the australia xi for so long.
Matthew Hayden (29/10/71)
Will hope to continue his form from the world cup in the caribbean, when he amassed a staggering 659 runs. A batsman who relies as much on strength as technique, he shows no sign of letting up as he nears his 36th birthday.
Brad Hodge (29/12/74)
The first man to score a century in australian domestic twenty20 cricket, with 106 off 54 balls against new south wales. Has not featured in international twenty20 but averages over 45 from 33 domestic matches.
Brad Hogg (6/2/71)
Another star of australia's successful 2007 world cup campaign, taking 21 wickets with his left-arm chinamen in the caribbean. A useful lower-order batsman who boasts an odi best of 71 not out.
Michael Hussey (27/5/75)
Has gone from strength to strength after belatedly making his test debut at the end of 2005, and his odi average sits just below 60. At times immovable, the man known as mr cricket also has the shots to be dangerous in 20-over cricket.
Mitchell Johnson (2/11/81)
Seemingly forever poised to hit the big time but yet to show
the form which many believe will make him one of the most feared
bowlers in world cricket. Faces a battle with nathan bracken
to be his country's premier left-arm seamer.
Brett Lee (8/11/76)
Feared the world over for his searing pace, he finds himself in the position of senior bowler following the retirement of glenn mcgrath. Made an unbeaten 43 when australia lost a twenty20 international to south africa last year.
Andrew Symonds (9/6/75)
As a true all-rounder in the one-day game with the ability to bowl both seam up and off-spin, he is seen as a key man in the australia set-up. Already has an international twenty20 half century to his name.
Shaun Tait (22/2/83)
One of the babies of the australia team at the age of 24. Still relatively raw and lacking the control of fellow quick brett lee, but enjoyed considerable success at the world cup, taking 23 wickets.
Shane Watson (17/9/81)
A potential match-winner with both bat and ball but yet to truly fulfil his undoubted potential. Scored an unbeaten 97 in the twenty20 cup whilst playing for hampshire and has a first-class double century to his name.
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