Wednesday September 19, 2012
Fancied Australia and India wary of giant-killers
COLOMBO: India and Australia hope to avoid adding to the list of great limited-overs upsets when they open their World Twenty20 campaigns against Afghanistan and Ireland today.
In a potentially sensational double-header at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, George Bailey’s Australia take on Ireland in Group B and India face Afghanistan in Group A.
While many fans will assume victory is a formality, both Australia and India know better than to predict the outcome of a Twenty20 game.
“I will only rest easy when that game has passed,” admitted Australian coach Mickey Arthur. “That’s not through fear of failure. Ireland have been a giant-killer down the line. Any team in this competition can win if they have a good day.”
The gritty Irish proved their worth when they stunned England at last year’s 50-over World Cup in India, after knocking Pakistan out of the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean.
Australia were handed a huge shock at the first World Twenty20 in 2007, when they were beaten by minnows Zimbabwe. Bangladesh knocked the West Indies out of the same tournament and Holland beat hosts England at the 2009 edition.
The 12 teams have been divided into four groups for the preliminary league, with the top two from each advancing to the Super Eights round.
Today’s second game may appear a mismatch, but Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said facing free-swinging Afghanistan, now in their second World Twenty20, was no easy task.
“Wins don’t come easy in international cricket and we are certainly not going to take any side lightly,” said Dhoni, who led India to the inaugural World Twenty20 title in South Africa in 2007. “We have to play our best cricket to beat Afghanistan. They are a good team and have improved a lot.”
Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal said his side had come a long way since their World Twenty20 debut in the Caribbean in 2010, when they lost to India by seven wickets.
“We are ready for the challenge,” Mangal said. “Teams like Ireland have shown that the best can be beaten and we are inspired by that. We too want to beat a big team.”
Both India and Australia go into the tournament chastened by defeats in warm-up matches in Colombo on Monday. Australia lost to defending champions England and India went down by five wickets to arch-rivals Pakistan. — AFP
- Gritty Indonesia give mighty China a huge scare
- BAM must stop rewarding mediocrity or be doomed
- Chong Wei urges team-mates to put Cup exit behind
- BAM secretary: It all depends on Kien Keat and Boon Heong now
- Yong-dae believes luckless run in world meet will end in Guangzhou
- Kingston leads, McIlroy in Wentworth woe
- Clock ticking for next golden generation
- British Open: Nicol David deals with disruptions for semi spot
- Nicol David sails into quarter-finals of British Open in 35 minutes
- British Open: Ramy Ashour racks up 38th successive win
- English tries hand Rebels first win over Waratahs
- Nadal, Djokovic on semi-final collision course in Paris
- England turn to youth to take on Barbarians
- British Open: Nicol David deals with disruptions for semi spot
- Cruden, Clarke help Chiefs claim crucial Crusaders win
- European football final adds new chapter to Adidas-Puma rivalry
- Former Giro winner Di Luca tests positive for EPO
- Jockey Ahern lodges appeal against 10-year ban
- Giro stage called off after heavy snow overnight
- Ryan Palmer sizzles with 62 to seize lead at Colonial
RSS
