The scum of my heart at the moment (other than my wife) is the cricket world cup finals. What anticipation. I am trying desperately to be objective about the result without succumbing to the hoopla that surrounds us. But how could i come up with anything other than a Sri Lanka win.
A friend and colleague said that it would all depend on whether we won the toss i.e. if we bat first. the logic being that the batters need to get a decent total for the bowlers to work their magic. There is much truth in this sentiment, however I think we can rule the day as long as we can get the better of their bowlers - no this not a Ranjit Fernandoism. Look at the table below:
| Australia bowling averages | ||||||||
| Player | Matches | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Ave | Econ | SR |
| SR Clark | 1 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 19 | 2.37 | 48 |
| BJ Hodge | 5 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 2.83 | 36 |
| NW Bracken | 9 | 65.4 | 9 | 224 | 15 | 14.93 | 3.41 | 26.2 |
| GB Hogg | 10 | 79.5 | 6 | 313 | 20 | 15.65 | 3.92 | 23.9 |
| GD McGrath | 10 | 73.5 | 5 | 326 | 25 | 13.04 | 4.41 | 17.7 |
| SR Watson | 7 | 37.3 | 2 | 168 | 3 | 56 | 4.48 | 75 |
| MJ Clarke | 10 | 12 | 0 | 63 | 0 | - | 5.25 | - |
| SW Tait | 10 | 78.3 | 1 | 425 | 23 | 18.47 | 5.41 | 20.4 |
| A Symonds | 8 | 20.2 | 1 | 129 | 2 | 64.5 | 6.34 | 61 |
what is most tantamount is controlling Bracken, Hogg, McGrath and Hodge if they bring him on. I think the Aussie power plays are going to be absolutely crucial. Shaun Tait imho is not going to be such a problem unless he takes a number of wickets..
As for us - we have got to play as if the world depended on it - and from all that we read and hear it does. However it would be great if they could just play the kind of cricket that has made us the scum of world's heart - entertaining spirited and endearing.
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