Australia to field best team against underdogs Kenya
March 12th, 2011 - 7:35 pm ICT by IANSBangalore, March 12 (IANS) Four-time champions and title-holder Australia will field 11 of their best players against underdogs Kenya in a World Cup Group A match at the Chinnaswamy stadium Sunday.
“All the 15 players are fit to play. We will choose the best 11 for an all-out win though we are playing against underdogs Kenya,” Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting told reporters here on the eve of the match.
Returning to Bangalore a month after losing to India in a warm-up match here Feb 13, the Australian team is strengthened with the inclusion of dashing left-hander Mike Hussey in place of injured speedster Doug Bollinger.
“We would like to see Mike play if he pulls up well from training. If he is declared fit, we will include him, his brother David (Hussey) or Steven Smith may have to make place for him,” Ponting hinted at a pre-match presser before joining the team for another practice session at the nets in the adjacent National Cricket Academy ground.
Though Mike was in the original 15-member squad for the World Cup, he pulled out at the last-minute due to a hamstring injury. When Bollinger was ruled out after an injury, he was called back last week to join the team.
“We had a good break after two easy matches and another got rained out (against Sri Lanka) in Colombo last week (March 5). The boys have been training hard for the big games ahead. We give our best regardless of whom we play against,” Ponting asserted.
The Aussies have five points from three games, winning two against Zimbabwe and New Zealand and sharing a point with Sri Lanka in the washed out tie. After playing Canada here March 16, their last league encounter will be against Pakistan March 19 in Colombo.
Kenya play their fifth match after having lost all the four matches — to New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Canada. Their last match is against Zimbabwe March 20 in Kolkata.
“With Mike’s skills and experience, it was important we got him back in the group. He’s the sort of player who can win you big games in big tournaments like the World Cup,” said Ponting.
- Race to replace injured Bollinger in Oz World Cup squad down to three players - Mar 06, 2011
- Die-hard fans keep away from Oz-Kenya tie - Mar 13, 2011
- Aussies raring to play big games; target Pakistan (Sidebar) - Mar 17, 2011
- Australia still a force to reckon with in ODIs (Team Profile, World Cup Countdown) - Feb 07, 2011
- Ponting downplays likelihood of Mike Hussey playing WC 2011 - Mar 05, 2011
- Australia, Pakistan will look to finish at top of Group A (Preview) - Mar 18, 2011
- Ponting wants his spinners to strike - Mar 15, 2011
- Michael Hussey replaces injured Bollinger in Oz World Cup team - Mar 06, 2011
- Oz selectors delay replacement for Bollinger seeing Hussey's optimism to return - Mar 01, 2011
- Fans root for underdogs Kenya at Chinnaswamy Stadium - Mar 13, 2011
- Ponting first World Cup captain to score 1,000 runs - Mar 14, 2011
- Cautious Clarke raises World Cup risk factor - Jan 21, 2011
- Minnows Kenya keen to play against mighty Australia - Mar 12, 2011
- Sri Lanka-Australia match called off due to rain - Mar 05, 2011
- Michael Hussey will play a big part in rest of Oz World Cup campaign: Clarke - Mar 10, 2011
Tags: aussies, big games, bollinger, brother david, david hussey, five points, kolkata, last match, march 19, member squad, mike hussey, national cricket academy, pakistan march, ponting, practice session, presser, steven smith, three games, time champions, world cup