Pata
04-27-2007, 06:12 AM
AUSTRALIA was last night told to keep its nose out of Sri Lanka's business as tension escalated in the build-up to tomorrow's final at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Soon after leading Australia to a seven-wicket semi-final demolition of South Africa, Ricky Ponting took aim at the Sri Lankans by suggesting they had botched their preparation for the final.
Sri Lanka rested key bowlers Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralidaran and Chaminda Vaas from last week's loss to Australia which Ponting claimed handed his team important momentum for the final.
"I thought they had a chance to make a statement against us but they chose not to by resting three of their best bowlers," Ponting said. "They are a good team. No doubt about that. They played some very good cricket (against New Zealand). But I really like the match-up, Australia versus Sri Lanka."
Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody defended the policy to rest its stars and feels Australia has no right to question his team's make-up.
"The return shot is why does Sri Lanka have to be told who to play against Australia?" Moody said.
"What is it to do with Australia who we play in a game which is essentially a dead rubber?
"The cricket world did not stick their nose into the fact that half the Australian team didn't tour New Zealand for the Chappell-Hadlee series. That was Australia's choice. It is the way you prepare your players for a long World Cup.
"Not all the Australians played the CB (Commonwealth Bank) series. (Glenn) McGrath and Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) had time off. What's different?"
Australia yesterday destroyed an over-anxious South Africa, which tried to play bold cricket, but adventure gave way to recklessness and it was soon overwhelmed by a side it never seems to beat when it matters.
South Africa was bowled out for 149 in 43.5 overs as the top order cracked under pressure due to the work of Glenn McGrath (3-18) and Shaun Tait (4-39).
Australia (3-153) lost Adam Gilchrist in the second over but had few moments of discomfort as it roared to victory with 18.3 overs to spare.
McGrath's performance took his wicket-tally to a tournament-high 25, at a remarkable average of 13.04, enough to secure his third man of the match award and earn him the World Cup player of the tournament award with a game still to play.
He will play in his fourth straight World Cup final before walking away from a sport he has dominated since 1995.
"I have been joking around the rooms saying that I am thinking about coming out of retirement," McGrath said.
"But I am still happy to finish up at the end of this World Cup. The fact that I have decided to retire is probably one of the reasons why I am bowling so well because I am just going out there, trying to enjoy it, make the most of it and really make the most of every game I play.
"There is no pressure, no fear, no anything."
It was obvious there was fear in the South African camp when McGrath outsmarted Jacques Kallis and later found himself on a hat-trick when he had Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher caught behind the wicket.
He missed the hat-trick when Justin Kemp left a ball just outside off stump, but the damage was done.
The Proteas were then 5-27 - and the semi-final was effectively over.
McGrath's smarts were on show when master craftsman Kallis tried to attack him.
Kallis had just given himself extra room on the crease and crunched a McGrath delivery to the cover boundary.
McGrath sensed that Kallis was going to repeat the shot next ball and, instead of pitching short, speared in a yorker that clattered into off stump. Kallis' strange approach came after Ponting had spotlighted the South African's reputation for being sluggish at the crease.
"I have probably bowled a bit more aggressively in this tournament than I have in the past and that's the reason why I have a few more wickets, probably gone for a few more runs than I would have preferred to, or normally do," McGrath said.
Ponting is confident a bouncy Barbados wicket tomorrow night will be the perfect vehicle for Australia to snatch a record third consecutive World Cup crown and Australia is sure to feed the Sri Lankans with a diet of short-pitched balls. "If Barbados has the pace and bounce it has for its last couple of games it should play into our hands beautifully," Ponting said.
"We are not unbeatable and we can be beaten if we do not play well, but today was our best win in the tournament.
"We had been building up to a performance like this for the entire tournament.
"I don't see us having to do anything in the final we have not done over the past seven weeks. We don't need someone to make 100 off 70 balls. You go out and play with freedom and let your skills take over."
Moody is adamant his team will give Australia the challenge it has lacked throughout the tournament.
"I think we can win - what Australia have done has no relevance to Saturday," Moody said. "If Sri Lanka bring their A game it is good enough to beat Australia.
"The Sri Lankans have a huge amount of respect for Australia but are not in awe of the contest. They actually welcome that. During my time with the team it has never seemed they were in fear or starstruck about Australia."
Soon after leading Australia to a seven-wicket semi-final demolition of South Africa, Ricky Ponting took aim at the Sri Lankans by suggesting they had botched their preparation for the final.
Sri Lanka rested key bowlers Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralidaran and Chaminda Vaas from last week's loss to Australia which Ponting claimed handed his team important momentum for the final.
"I thought they had a chance to make a statement against us but they chose not to by resting three of their best bowlers," Ponting said. "They are a good team. No doubt about that. They played some very good cricket (against New Zealand). But I really like the match-up, Australia versus Sri Lanka."
Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody defended the policy to rest its stars and feels Australia has no right to question his team's make-up.
"The return shot is why does Sri Lanka have to be told who to play against Australia?" Moody said.
"What is it to do with Australia who we play in a game which is essentially a dead rubber?
"The cricket world did not stick their nose into the fact that half the Australian team didn't tour New Zealand for the Chappell-Hadlee series. That was Australia's choice. It is the way you prepare your players for a long World Cup.
"Not all the Australians played the CB (Commonwealth Bank) series. (Glenn) McGrath and Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) had time off. What's different?"
Australia yesterday destroyed an over-anxious South Africa, which tried to play bold cricket, but adventure gave way to recklessness and it was soon overwhelmed by a side it never seems to beat when it matters.
South Africa was bowled out for 149 in 43.5 overs as the top order cracked under pressure due to the work of Glenn McGrath (3-18) and Shaun Tait (4-39).
Australia (3-153) lost Adam Gilchrist in the second over but had few moments of discomfort as it roared to victory with 18.3 overs to spare.
McGrath's performance took his wicket-tally to a tournament-high 25, at a remarkable average of 13.04, enough to secure his third man of the match award and earn him the World Cup player of the tournament award with a game still to play.
He will play in his fourth straight World Cup final before walking away from a sport he has dominated since 1995.
"I have been joking around the rooms saying that I am thinking about coming out of retirement," McGrath said.
"But I am still happy to finish up at the end of this World Cup. The fact that I have decided to retire is probably one of the reasons why I am bowling so well because I am just going out there, trying to enjoy it, make the most of it and really make the most of every game I play.
"There is no pressure, no fear, no anything."
It was obvious there was fear in the South African camp when McGrath outsmarted Jacques Kallis and later found himself on a hat-trick when he had Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher caught behind the wicket.
He missed the hat-trick when Justin Kemp left a ball just outside off stump, but the damage was done.
The Proteas were then 5-27 - and the semi-final was effectively over.
McGrath's smarts were on show when master craftsman Kallis tried to attack him.
Kallis had just given himself extra room on the crease and crunched a McGrath delivery to the cover boundary.
McGrath sensed that Kallis was going to repeat the shot next ball and, instead of pitching short, speared in a yorker that clattered into off stump. Kallis' strange approach came after Ponting had spotlighted the South African's reputation for being sluggish at the crease.
"I have probably bowled a bit more aggressively in this tournament than I have in the past and that's the reason why I have a few more wickets, probably gone for a few more runs than I would have preferred to, or normally do," McGrath said.
Ponting is confident a bouncy Barbados wicket tomorrow night will be the perfect vehicle for Australia to snatch a record third consecutive World Cup crown and Australia is sure to feed the Sri Lankans with a diet of short-pitched balls. "If Barbados has the pace and bounce it has for its last couple of games it should play into our hands beautifully," Ponting said.
"We are not unbeatable and we can be beaten if we do not play well, but today was our best win in the tournament.
"We had been building up to a performance like this for the entire tournament.
"I don't see us having to do anything in the final we have not done over the past seven weeks. We don't need someone to make 100 off 70 balls. You go out and play with freedom and let your skills take over."
Moody is adamant his team will give Australia the challenge it has lacked throughout the tournament.
"I think we can win - what Australia have done has no relevance to Saturday," Moody said. "If Sri Lanka bring their A game it is good enough to beat Australia.
"The Sri Lankans have a huge amount of respect for Australia but are not in awe of the contest. They actually welcome that. During my time with the team it has never seemed they were in fear or starstruck about Australia."