World Champions Australia are leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the match against India on Sunday.
CHANDIGARH: Australian cricket team skipper Ricky Ponting said on Thursday that his team was well aware of the Indian might and his team was treating the Sunday’s match at Mohali as a “big game.”
He said that India has “match winning players” and added they had been training hard to take on the opposition on their home turf.
“We got enough time in between the games to prepare and work hard. We are ready for the challenge and are hoping to have a good game of cricket,” said Ponting.
He said their last game of the Champions Trophy was also important, but now the whole focus was on the next match. “It’s a big game for us, no doubt,” he said. Ponting said that all-rounder Shane Watson, who had to be hospitalised on Tuesday after he complained of chest and stomach pain, was much better now. “He had a good session at the nets today,” he said. Watson’s availability is crucial to Australia’s chances as he has been in top form, taking 3 for 16 off seven overs to shape his team’s six-wicket win against England at Jaipur last week. Aussies’ another key player Michael Hussey, who was hurt during the practice session earlier, had also recovered.
Mitchell up to the challenge
Australia’s young pacer Mitchell Johnson admitted that bowling on Indian pitches was challenging, but said he would try to exploit the bounce which the Mohali track offered.
“It is always a challenge to bowl on Indian wickets. Wickets here are generally known to be batsmen-friendly. However, bowlers have been doing a good job in the (Champions Trophy) championship,” said Johnson after his team’s three-hour practice session at the nets.
He said the swing bowlers got in Wednesday’s match between Pakistan and New Zealand was encouraging and the pacers would be looking to exploit that.
Asked how he felt to claim the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the DLF Cup in Malaysia, he said “it was good to get him out”. Johnson, however, said he regarded Tendulkar as a “dangerous batsman” who could change the match situation any time.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}