England Face Great Australian Barrier in World CUP OPENER
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 England face great Australian Foreign legion stir barrier in World Cup opener national feelings SYDNEY: Ireland’s management expressed frustra- MELBOURNE: England face a formidable task against hosts tion yesterday at seeing Dublin-born Eoin Morgan Australia in their World Cup opener at the Melbourne Cricket installed as England captain for the World Cup, but Ground today as they look to end a depressing run against their complaints are unlikely to generate wide- the old enemy. England, chasing a maiden World Cup title, spread sympathy. Chief selector and former head into the tournament with fresh painful memories of Ireland captain Alan Lewis said it was “irritating” three losses to the Australians, including a crushing 112-run that 28-year-old Morgan, who originally made his defeat in last month’s tri-series final. Eoin Morgan’s team ODI debut in Irish colors, will skipper England at have to turn around a wretched record of two wins from the World Cup which starts today. their last 15 ODI encounters in Australia before an expected Lewis told the Slog Sweep podcast that Ireland 90,000 crowd at the MCG. The last of England’s three losing would be in a much stronger position had Morgan World Cup finals was in Australia in 1992. Adding to their and fellow defector Boyd Rankin not decamped to problems is that in a tough Pool A they will also face 1996 winners Sri Lanka and the improving tournament co-hosts play for England. “It is a wee bit irritating to think New Zealand. where we could be if Eoin and Boyd were avail- England are banking on home expectations getting the able,” Lewis said. Fast bowler Rankin’s defection better of the Australians as it proved when the World Cup backfired when he failed to make the England was last held Down Under 23 years ago and they knocked World Cup squad, but that did little to assuage the Aussies out in the semi-finals. “It’s important to focus on Lewis’s frustrations. what we do best. I think a lot of times in the past we’ve “I look at the England set-up and over the last strived for a formula that hasn’t been ours,” Morgan said. “I 10 years, three people from this little island where think if we can produce what I think is our best cricket today, cricket is the fourth or fifth sport are playing for a we’ll be able to beat Australia.” country whose national sport is cricket,” he added. The Australians, who will go into the tournament opener “I wouldn’t want to deprive Eoin Morgan the without skipper Michael Clarke as he strives for full fitness opportunity with the ability he has, I’d want to after hamstring surgery, are looking for the impetus of a play at the top level, and in honesty every Irish commanding victory to get the country behind them for the supporter would wish him well, it’s a great story, rest of the six-week tournament. but it’s a great frustration. To get our players back, “There’s pressure on every team in any World Cup, wher- that’s part of the next step.” But Ireland find them- ever you’re playing, to win,” Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. “For us it’s about embracing our own country and get- selves in a tricky position when it comes to the use ting the support from the crowd, entertaining them and of foreign talent, and Lewis’s comments drew criti- playing the brand of cricket we have over the last 18 months cism from fans. in the one-day format. “If we do that, the results will look “Sorry, Ireland, but a country which has consis- after themselves. “We don’t look any further ahead than tently imported players from around the world has England and looking forward to great crowd support and no room to be critical when its better players want putting on a good show.” Australia are peaking at the right to play at the top level,” one fan wrote on the time for a crack at their fifth World Cup triumph and have CricInfo website. Ireland were captained by only lost one of their last 12 ODIs against all-comers. Australian-born Trent Johnston at the 2007 World Australia accounted for the third-ranked South Africans 4-1 Cup while their 2015 squad boasts Brisbane-born in a series at home last November and comfortably beat Alex Cusack. Dubliner Ed Joyce played for England England and India in the tri-series in the final weeks before at the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean but he the World Cup. Morgan has issues of his own heading into switched back to Ireland for the 2011 edition and cricket’s showpiece with three ducks in his last four outings will be key for them in Australia and New Zealand. restricting his meaningful batting practice. “I’m not really Ireland and England are not the only nations that concerned. I’ve had a couple of low scores, but obvious- ly I’m looking to cash in today if I manage to get past 10 to who have foreign talent on their radar. Scotland’s 20 balls,” Morgan said. “Four or five games since I last scored 15-man squad features seven non-Scots, including a 100, so I don’t have to look that far back to actually recon- two key South Africans. Durban-born Preston nect with what works well for me. Mommsen is captain while Richie Berrington, who “I took a lot out of that 100 I scored in Sydney (last hails from Pretoria, hit 66 in the team’s three-run month), particularly as it was against Australia. I take a lot of loss to West Indies in a warm-up game in Sydney confidence from that game.” on Thursday. The United Arab Emirates, playing in Lehmann mischievously hopes Morgan’s batting troubles the World Cup for the first time since 1996, have continue for a little while longer. “He’s a good player. I’d like just three Emirati-born men in their squad with the him to continue that run against us today, but he’s a fine bulk of their talent drawn from Pakistan and India. player so we’ll come up with our plans as we did in the tri- Local player Mohammed Tauqir was installed as series,” he said. The highest crowd for an ODI at the MCG of captain to replace fellow 43-year-old Khurram 87,789 for the 1992 Pakistan-England World Cup final is MELBOURNE: England’s paceman Chris Woakes bowls during a nets train- Khan from Pakistan. — AFP under threat this weekend. — AFP ing session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday. — AFP Confident New Zealand wary of Malinga X-factor CHRISTCHURCH: Camps with contrasting But despite the spectre of Malinga, who impressive form at three and four as have two tournaments in 2007 and 2011, are formi- moods-New Zealand brimming with confi- returns after six months sidelined by an ankle Ronchi, fresh from an unbeaten 170 against dable when everything clicks but that has not dence and Sri Lanka searching for consisten- injury, New Zealand remain favorites to set Sri Lanka, and all-rounders Corey Anderson been happening for them without Malinga. cy-launch the World Cup in Christchurch the tournament alight with a home win and and Grant Elliott. They are also laden with tal- Mathews sees Malinga as “probably” the today. New Zealand, co-hosts with Australia, are widely regarded as potential finalists. “I ent in the bowling department, able to call on difference between Sri Lanka and New have their tails up after a 4-2 domination of Sri don’t know if we’d be favorites, but every- various combinations using Tim Southee, Zealand. “You can’t write off the rest of our Lanka in a recent warm up series followed by one’s saying we’re a good shot,” said wicket- Trent Boult, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne and bowlers, we have fairly experienced bowlers, a resounding warm-up win this week over keeper Luke Ronchi. “If we go in with a posi- Mitchell McClenaghan with Daniel Vettori and but obviously Lasith has the X-factor,” he said. tournament heavyweights South Africa. tive mind frame and we know we can beat Nathan McCullum providing spin options. Sri Lanka’s batting strength is headed by Sri Lanka followed their New Zealand loss- any side on our day then that’s a good thing. Swing master Boult wrapped up his World Sangakkara, the leading ODI run scorer in es with a defeat to lowly-ranked Zimbabwe, If we go out and perform as we should we’ve Cup preparations with a five wicket bag 2014 just shading Mathews and both well although throughout their period acclimatiz- got a big chance.” New Zealand have devel- against South Africa on Wednesday with clear of the third highest scorer, India’s Virat ing to New Zealand conditions they have oped into a well-balanced unit over the past Brendon McCullum and Williamson both pro- Kohli. Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne been without their ODI ace Lasith Malinga. year and are not fazed by the inconsistency of ducing half centuries. Sri Lanka have made no and Dinesh Chandimal add depth to Sri Malinga has the X-factor and he will make the the Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum secret of the fact they need Malinga with his Lanka’s batting line up although in recent difference, according to Sri Lanka captain opening partnership.