[Swooperman]

OK, you know whats coming

The 3rd ODI between Australia & NZ has just finished, & Australia had everything going for them in this match after the last 2 games: NZ had rested their best 2 bowlers & their chief all rounder was still unfit, the game was a day/nighter & the Aussies won the toss enabling them to bat in daylight & NZ to bat under lights. Hayden batted throughout the innings despite breaking a toe & scored the highest ever one day score by an Aussie, & after 35 overs Australia were 188-1.
They scored 346-5, which had only ever been knocked off once before in the history of one day cricket.........& they lost !!

The Aussie batting, even missing Ponting & Gilchrist, has being doing the business, but theyve been writing cheques the bowlers simply arent good enough to cash.

FACT: the 4 highest run chases EVER have been scored against this Australian attack in the last 2 seasons, with the 2nd & 3rd highest being in the last 2 matches

FACT: 5 of the 6 highest run chases EVER, successful or not, have been scored against this Australian attack in the last 2 seasons, this also equates to 6 of the all time biggest 14 in the same time span.

There was no McGrath or White today but they played on sunday & friday & the suspicion that the time for McGrath to carry the attack through has gone.
Again the amount of full tosses was unbelievable at this level, & I keep saying it but Watson is simply not international class with the ball by a long, long, long way (nice 68 though )

Has anybody ever won the World Cup coming into the tournament on a run of 5 straight defeats & 6 in the last 7 ???? I think perhaps not :loon

This World Cup couldnt be more wide open, & all I've definetly worked out so far is that Australia are far too short with their bowling attack, & NZs chances deserve to be taken more seriously