Australian hubris rears its ugly head before the semi-final
Ricky Ponting has boasted South Africa face 'mission impossible' in Wednesday's semi-final:
"We are very confident and we will take a lot of beating in that semi-final. We are demonstrating that we are very dominant. We are batting well with some great partnerships and are right on track at the moment. We're going great."He also took the opportunity to sink the boot into New Zealand following their crushing 215 run defeat:
"I'd rather be in our dressing room than theirs. I'm sure they will be having all sorts of meetings over the next few days to talk about today's game. If they don't think that's going to affect them at all, then how is any psychological edge ever gained in any game? If we don't take something out of today's game, nobody ever can. We've just beaten New Zealand by 215 runs in a World Cup game, so they've got a lot of thinking to do."Australia's other known bully boy, Matt Hayden continues the verbal barrage, claiming South Africa are afraid of Australia:
"Last time we played better than them and you could tell by the looks on their faces they were intimidated by us. I definitely sensed that. It is an edge which came from many years of beating them. It was just body language. You could feel that they could feel it."There's a fine line between confidence and hubris. Australia have left that line far behind. I have vivid memories of a 60 Minutes interview with Ricky Ponting before the 2005 Ashes. The interviewer asked if Ponting was worried he'd be the captain to lose the Ashes. Ponting smirked in a "as if!!" kind of way. They turned up to England as if the urn was already theirs. The rest was history.
Australia are a better side than South Africa and are favourites to win. If they continue the good form they've shown this tournament, they will win. However, their greatest opponent is not South Africa but their own hubris. Let's hope our boys don't lapse into overconfidence after a series of easy victories on the way to the semi-finals (including shadow victories over a depleted Sri Lanka and injury plagued New Zealand).
| Posted by JC on Mon 23 Apr |  16 comments |
I think this is more a case of mind games before the match.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-23 12:08:45
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-23 12:08:45
I hope so. What concerns me is the mind games are handing South Africa motivation on a platter.
Posted by JC on 2007-04-23 13:15:57
Posted by JC on 2007-04-23 13:15:57
I guess the question is... will it cause the South Africans to focus more on their own game and what they need to do to win or will it cause them to start thinking of the consequences of losing? Personally I'd be happy if Ponting and Hayden let their results in the WC do the talking, afterall, it only takes a couple of good balls to decide a one-dayer.
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-04-23 14:11:29
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-04-23 14:11:29
Yea I think this sort of pressure isn't the kind that motivates South Africa.
I think instead the South Africans will spend their time thinking, "I can't make a mistake" resulting in defensive and conservative play.
Australia come out aggressive, and put South Africa on the defensive, South Africa won't recover.
One way to look at it JC, would you rather South Africa thinking about how they chased down a 400+ score or worried about how they got smashed in the last game against the Aussies.
Confidence is the difference between Hayden walking down the wicket and hitting a six, doing an Ian Bell and walking down the wicket to block.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-23 15:04:45
I think instead the South Africans will spend their time thinking, "I can't make a mistake" resulting in defensive and conservative play.
Australia come out aggressive, and put South Africa on the defensive, South Africa won't recover.
One way to look at it JC, would you rather South Africa thinking about how they chased down a 400+ score or worried about how they got smashed in the last game against the Aussies.
Confidence is the difference between Hayden walking down the wicket and hitting a six, doing an Ian Bell and walking down the wicket to block.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-23 15:04:45
Or SA can come out as they did against England and demolish them. Remember SA's attitude against Eng wasnt very conservative considering THAT was a big game. They were pressurized to win, but they didnt take it easy cos the total was low, they came out guns blazing.... its a funny game, u neva know.....
Posted by My Blood is green on 2007-04-23 20:21:51
Posted by My Blood is green on 2007-04-23 20:21:51
Personally the way England are playing its like playing a minnow.... They were pathetic that game. You can't use them as a judge, instead look at Sri Lanka or New Zealand games.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-24 01:06:58
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-24 01:06:58
I don't think we have the bowling attack to back up these kinds of comments. If all four bowlers turn up ready to play we are OK, but you certainly can't bank on McGrath, Tait, and Bracken all firing on the same day. I think Australia depend too much on winning with the bat. No matter which way you look at it though, SA have a pretty balanced outfit with a great bowling attack. If Pollock starts to fire we will be 3-not much in pretty short time.
Posted by TA on 2007-04-24 11:07:13
Posted by TA on 2007-04-24 11:07:13
People keep saying the bowling is not great but we've bowled out all the teams except the bangladeshis - and that was a 22 over game. So far the bowlers have worked really well as a team, usually only 1 has had a bad day at a time. Just look at how many Aussies are in the top 5 wicket takers - 3! Hopefully that will continue.
I think basically it will come down to the pitch conditions and the toss.
I find all these macho mind games a bit tiring. Why would you tell the opposition your game plan anyway? It's funny, Hussey said before the last SA match that you can have all the mind games you want, basically it just boils down to what happens on the day.
Posted by MT on 2007-04-24 14:27:17
I think basically it will come down to the pitch conditions and the toss.
I find all these macho mind games a bit tiring. Why would you tell the opposition your game plan anyway? It's funny, Hussey said before the last SA match that you can have all the mind games you want, basically it just boils down to what happens on the day.
Posted by MT on 2007-04-24 14:27:17
Even when our bowlers have a bad day, they can normally regroup and still get a few wickets. Even Tait has the ability to come back and get a few wickets.
MT the simple fact is these mind games are telling South Africa nothing, except that the Australian are going to come out and play hard. Thats not really a game plan and Hussey comments reveal that the Aussies aren't getting to caught up in the mind games, but if you look at South Africa last summer they were here, Smith has a weakness to mind games.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-24 15:57:17
MT the simple fact is these mind games are telling South Africa nothing, except that the Australian are going to come out and play hard. Thats not really a game plan and Hussey comments reveal that the Aussies aren't getting to caught up in the mind games, but if you look at South Africa last summer they were here, Smith has a weakness to mind games.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-04-24 15:57:17
I think the Australian bowling attack has performed exceptionally well. I'd back MacGrath in a high pressure game any day. Bracken has been fantastic, highlighted by his opening spell against the Sri Lankans which would rival any spell by any bowler ever. Tait has provided the sharp edge a quality attack needs. I haven't seen a batsman pick Hoggy yet and Watson has got a few tricks which can make him difficult to spank. Add to that the flexibility that Clarke and Symmons offer and you have a very well balanced, flexible and potent attack. South Africa's attack is disciplined but lacks potency. I believe the match pins around the wicket of Gibbs. I thinks he's the only South African batsman capable of playing spin, swing and express pace.
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-04-24 16:34:10
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-04-24 16:34:10
I know the aussies r favourites and im rooting fr them but i really hpe they shut up and focus on the on-field game rather than mind games now...its actually motivating SA and it will be very embarassing if the aussies lose
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2007-04-24 17:23:58
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2007-04-24 17:23:58
If I had to bet money on the game I would bet on Australia. But it's just a one day game and South Africa are no minnows. It could go either way so I hope the Australians are not too arrogant.
Can't wait for the game, this is the juicy end of the world cup!
Posted by Chris on 2007-04-24 18:37:10
Can't wait for the game, this is the juicy end of the world cup!
Posted by Chris on 2007-04-24 18:37:10
I think Smith has matured a lot since the series in oz- he was pretty young then. SA is actually showing some flexibility too - chaning the bowling lineup from the old tried and true. I think expect Langeveldt, Nel and Hall will be used as strike bowlers. I think Sa will be out to attack Bracken like the kiwis did too.
I ope oz win - otherwise they will lok a bunch of idiots.
Posted by MT on 2007-04-24 21:06:39
I ope oz win - otherwise they will lok a bunch of idiots.
Posted by MT on 2007-04-24 21:06:39
Okay guys, lets be realistic. Our chances of winning aggainst you are slim. However, if you beat us, there's still the small matter of facing Sri-Lanka in the final. Someone on this blog said Australia has never faced Malinga. Well Check this out:
Lasith Malinga has perhaps the most deceiving bowling action among fast bowlers in the game. Added to this is a deadly yorker which helped him take six wickets on debut against Australia in 2004. Regularly notching up speeds between 140 and 150 kms, Malinga has also developed a bouncer which batsmen find very hard to negotiate.
Here's the link:
http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/editspecials/playerprofiles/Sri%20Lanka/lasithmalinga.htm
Good Luck.
Posted by LS on 2007-04-24 23:01:27
Lasith Malinga has perhaps the most deceiving bowling action among fast bowlers in the game. Added to this is a deadly yorker which helped him take six wickets on debut against Australia in 2004. Regularly notching up speeds between 140 and 150 kms, Malinga has also developed a bouncer which batsmen find very hard to negotiate.
Here's the link:
http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/editspecials/playerprofiles/Sri%20Lanka/lasithmalinga.htm
Good Luck.
Posted by LS on 2007-04-24 23:01:27
South Africa lost to the team of the day..But Australians are so mouthfull..SA will bounce back..you watch!
Posted by Mzukisi Matinise on 2007-04-30 09:37:15
Posted by Mzukisi Matinise on 2007-04-30 09:37:15
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