Defending champion, Pakistan, will face Australia in their last match on 2nd May 2010 with the hope of becoming group champion. This match will be played at Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia. Millions of fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see this game live on TV. This match will kick off at 17:30 GMT and 13:30 West Indian Time.
Pakistan cricket team has already ensured their place in the super eight round after defeating Bangladesh by 21 runs. Now, they will take on Australia to be the group champion in group A. However, it is going to be the first game for Australian cricket team. I hope that they do not want to take any risk to be upset by Bangladesh. That is why, they will struggle hard to win the match in any cost.
Odds:
It is really impossible for anyone to predict who will win this match. Both Pakistan and Australia had poor performance in warm-up matches. Both of them were beaten by minnow Zimbabwe. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan cricket team can remain their unbeaten form or not. Who do you think will be the group champion in group A: Pakistan or Australia?
Highest time World Cup Champion team, Australia, has been ruling the cricket world for more than one decade. Despite performing well in both ODI and Test cricket, they could not win any trophy in the shortest version of cricket game. They feel upset for their failure in T20 cricket. Now, Australia is now confident about their success in this event. They have come West Indies with the aim of winning the champions trophy and that is why Australian selectors announced a strong squad. They will seek inspiration from their previous victory against Pakistan.
It will be an acid test for skipper, Michael Clarke. The success of Australian cricket team will depend on him. He was named captain after Ricky Ponting announcing his retirement from T20 cricket last September to concentrate on playing Test and ODI cricket. He has already proved himself as a dependable batsman. He rescued his team many times. Let us see if he can guide his team successfully as a captain.
Strength of Batting:
Australia has strong batting and bowling up. Their batting line up consists of some hard hitter batsmen like Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron White and Brad Haddin. All rounder Andrew Symonds and James Hopes will play an effective role in the middle order position. Dan Christian is the uncapped all rounder in Australian squad. He is supposed to make his debut with this T20 World Cup.
Strength of Bowling:
Australian bowling line up looks much stronger and fearsome. Selectors included three fast bowlers who can bowl at 145 km/h per hour. Mitchell Johnson, Dirk Nannes and Ryan Harris are in good form. Opposite teams will have a tough time to face them.
Brett Lee is out of Australia squad for injury:
Perhaps Australian cricket team will have to face a tough challenge in their first group match against Pakistan because of the absence of their leading fast bowler, Brett Lee, who returns back to Australia on Saturday after sustaining an injury in his right forearm during the warm-up match against Zimbabwe. His injury ruled him out of the Twenty20 World Cup. It came as a shock withdrawal for the whole Australian cricket team. However, this injury also raised question whether he can continue his international career. There is no doubt that Australian cricket team will have to suffer a lot due to his absence. He is an experienced fast bowler. So, it will be a difficult task for the selectors to find a best replacement in his place. May be, he will be replaced by Ryan Harris.
Injury is a very common thing for Brett Lee. Since December 2008, he has fallen into injury five times including ankle surgery, side strain, elbow surgery and a fractured thumb. This time it will take him long time to be recovered from injury.
Chairman of the selectors, Andrew Hilditch, is hopeful about Brett Lee that he will be recovered soon and make his strong comeback. To remain his position in Australian squad, he will have to produce his career-best form.
Pakistan fast bowler, Umar Gul, who was the highest wicket taker in last year’s T20 World Cup, could not join with Pakistan squad because of his injury. However, he was successfully replaced by Mohammad Sami. However, they will be aware of their batting line up.
Live TV channels:
I know that fans should enjoy this game live on TV. Some TV channels in both Pakistan and Australia will telecast it live. Fox Sports has got the right to telecast all the matches live in Australia. In Pakistan, GEO Super and Pakistan Television Corporation will telecast the match live on TV. However, South Asian people also can enjoy this game live on ESPN STAR Sports.
Live commentary in Radios:
However, you can enjoy the match live on radio also. In Australia, ABC Local Radio will give live commentary. On the other hand, Hum FM will give live commentary in Pakistan.
Who do you think will win?
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