The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : The Kangaroos play to win at any cost

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 05, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

The Kangaroos play to win at any cost

It's Ponting's dazzling win rate of 60 per cent in Tests and 77 in ODIs that has kept the Baggy Greens on top, writes Virender Sehwag

Playing in the same team as the world's best cricketers is always exciting. Playing in such a team against the Aussies is even more so.

Of course, there'll be an added edge to meeting them at the indoor stadium in Melbourne for the ODIs and in Sydney for the one-off Test during the upcoming Johnnie Walker Super Series. As the statements from some of the players have shown, the Australians are eager to get back their reputation as the world's best team in both forms of the game.

And let's face it, they are! Anyone who judges the Aussies on the Ashes defeat and predicts the end of their long rule at the top is making a mistake. I know from experience that these guys play to win at any cost, and I am confident the encounters at Melbourne and Sydney won't be any different.

In fact, my experience tells me that the tougher the challenge, the better the Aussies play. Right now, the Aussies are like wounded tigers, playing at home and they will come full throttle to restore their lost pride. So, it's the toughest time to play against Australia. That's the way they are. As anyone who watched that thrilling second Test at Edgbaston will remember, they're extremely focused on winning when they're on the pitch, and they lost by just two runs. Or keep in mind Ponting's stubborn stand to save the next Test.

Not to be under-rated

That's why nobody should under-rate Ponting and his team. It is Ponting's dazzling win rate of 60 per cent in Tests and an amazing 77 per cent in ODIs that has kept the Baggy Greens on top of the rankings and one series defeat won't change things. Let's not forget that they still have the world's finest openers, leg-spinner and wicket-keeper.

Pollock, who is captaining the team for the ODIs, is doing the right thing by not taking them for granted and studying the tactics England adopted against the Aussies, though I'm sure Buchanan and the boys have studied every aspect of the reverse swing that confused them in England.

Added edge

Playing against the Aussies always adds an extra edge to a competition. I am confident those of us in the World XI will give them a stiff fight in every match, we have the talent to do so, and, with a bit of luck, even win. I have a decent batting average against Australia, so I feel good about meeting them in the ODIs and the Test. One thing I can guarantee: the series won't be boring!

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