Aussies out to remain unbeaten

Elmo Rodrigopulle

CRICKET: The awesome Aussies oozing with confidence after their amazing run in the ongoing World Cup 2007, where they have brushed aside all opponents are determined to maintain their roll and beat South Africa in the second-semi-final here on Wednesday.

The Australians who won the title in 1999 and 2003 are confident that they can make it three-in-a-row by dumping the Proteas and whoever they confront in the final.

When the Aussies arrived here led by the mercurial Ricky Ponting, not many believed that they could make progress after their defeats to England in Commonwealth Bank one-day series in Australia and the Hadlee-Chappell series to New Zealand in Kiwiland.

But Ponting has rallied his troops and they are now playing the best cricket, having peaked at the right moment and their unbeaten run proves this.

However at the back of their minds and what would be nagging them is the fact, that they have still not had a bad day and would be strongly guarding against that.

Australia beat South Africa in their group match by 83 runs early in the tournament, but that is now a thing of the past.

What matters now is winning the game today.

Matthew Hayden, the Australian opener who is batting at his best with three centuries is confident that they could intimidate the South Africans again and make them second best.

The Australians have a side that is well balanced in all aspects. The batting, bowling and the fielding has been tops. Batsmen of the calibre of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Rickey Ponting, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symmonds and Shane Watson are all capable of big runs.

The bowling is in the capable hands of Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken and Glen McGrath the pacemen and the spin is provided by Brad Hogg who spun well against New Zealand.

The Aussie fielding is as good as the South Africans. Feilding plays an important role in this style of game and the sides have some exciting fielders.

South Africa revived a scare when captain Greame Smith suffered a minor knee injury while fielding against England. Smith did not play a full part when the Proteas trained on Saturday.

Smith has been managing the injury with rest.

South Africa have also not laid their hands on the World Cup. In 1999 Australia outsted the South Africans in the semi-finals. The only time South Africa entered the last four was in 1992 and were unfortunate to lose to England, largely due to the rain rule prevalent at that time.

Man to man the Proteas can match the Australians. If they believe in themselves and play to potential without being intimated, then there is no reason why they can’t breast the tape first in this game.

Smith and De Villiers are batting well. So are Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock.

The South African sadly miss a good spinner.

They rely on the pace of Shaun Pollock, Charlie Langefeldt, Andrew Hall and Andre Nell. Smith bowls part time off spinners.

The wicket has also been a newly laid one and is spin friendly if the side batting first can run up a competitive score, something around 270-280 should be in a better position to win and enter the final.

However a battle royal is expected.

St. Lucia, Tuesday