Pata
03-28-2007, 04:12 PM
From Jon Pierik in St Johns, Antigua
March 28, 2007
AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting has delivered a blunt directive to Ireland and Bangladesh: Lift your game.
In a biting comment that may anger Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, Ponting said cricket's lesser nations must continue to improve in the next month to ensure their matches were "fairly competitive".
Ponting had already irked Whatmore earlier in the tournament by claiming the minnow nations - which, until recently, included Bangladesh - shouldn't be involved in the Cricket World Cup.
Australia will meet Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday (AEST), then plays cup debutant Ireland in Barbados two weeks later.
Like most people, Ponting was surprised that past champions India and Pakistan had been knocked out before the Super Eights.
"I don't know if it makes it any easier," Ponting said.
"The teams that have made it through obviously deserve to get there. They have won the games they have had to do to make it through to that stage.
"I guess there are a couple of nations that have made it through that you mightn't have expected.
"It's just up to the other sides to make sure they play well and probably up to those smaller nations to make sure they lift their standards as well and make the games they play fairly competitive."
Bangladesh advanced for the first time to the cup's second stage by way of its surprise five-wicket win over India and a thumping of Bermuda.
Whatmore, who played seven Tests for Australia, hopes his unfancied men can cause more upsets.
Australia endured arguably its worst limited-overs defeat when Bangladesh completed a stunning five-wicket win in Cardiff in 2005 on the eve of the Ashes series.
That was the day Andrew Symonds rolled up to the ground still drunk from a night out, and the complacent Australians were blindsided by a Mohammad Ashraful century.
All rounder Shane Watson, who watched that mesmerising loss from the sidelines, vowed that complacency would not be an issue this time.
"We learnt a lot from it that day, especially not to underrate Bangladesh," Watson said.
"They have got a lot of talented players there now so we are going to have to be at our peak to make sure we come away with a win."
Bangladesh almost caused one of the greatest Test upsets when it had Australia on the ropes in the opening match in Fatullah last year.
But a dashing first-innings century from Adam Gilchrist saved Australia, and the tourists, weary after a long summer, went on to claim a 2-0 series win.
They then swept the ensuing three-match limited-overs series.
March 28, 2007
AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting has delivered a blunt directive to Ireland and Bangladesh: Lift your game.
In a biting comment that may anger Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, Ponting said cricket's lesser nations must continue to improve in the next month to ensure their matches were "fairly competitive".
Ponting had already irked Whatmore earlier in the tournament by claiming the minnow nations - which, until recently, included Bangladesh - shouldn't be involved in the Cricket World Cup.
Australia will meet Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday (AEST), then plays cup debutant Ireland in Barbados two weeks later.
Like most people, Ponting was surprised that past champions India and Pakistan had been knocked out before the Super Eights.
"I don't know if it makes it any easier," Ponting said.
"The teams that have made it through obviously deserve to get there. They have won the games they have had to do to make it through to that stage.
"I guess there are a couple of nations that have made it through that you mightn't have expected.
"It's just up to the other sides to make sure they play well and probably up to those smaller nations to make sure they lift their standards as well and make the games they play fairly competitive."
Bangladesh advanced for the first time to the cup's second stage by way of its surprise five-wicket win over India and a thumping of Bermuda.
Whatmore, who played seven Tests for Australia, hopes his unfancied men can cause more upsets.
Australia endured arguably its worst limited-overs defeat when Bangladesh completed a stunning five-wicket win in Cardiff in 2005 on the eve of the Ashes series.
That was the day Andrew Symonds rolled up to the ground still drunk from a night out, and the complacent Australians were blindsided by a Mohammad Ashraful century.
All rounder Shane Watson, who watched that mesmerising loss from the sidelines, vowed that complacency would not be an issue this time.
"We learnt a lot from it that day, especially not to underrate Bangladesh," Watson said.
"They have got a lot of talented players there now so we are going to have to be at our peak to make sure we come away with a win."
Bangladesh almost caused one of the greatest Test upsets when it had Australia on the ropes in the opening match in Fatullah last year.
But a dashing first-innings century from Adam Gilchrist saved Australia, and the tourists, weary after a long summer, went on to claim a 2-0 series win.
They then swept the ensuing three-match limited-overs series.