Aussie strategy good : Mark Waugh

All experts are in India and Lanka. We are indeed fortunate that cricket analysis comes from experts and ex players.

Mark Waugh has lauded the Kangaroo strategy. The Aussies were smarting under two defeats in the warm up matches. They had to save their face, lest they go down in the ratings of the bookies and the international cricketing fraternity.

He says the Aussie strategy was good in the last match. Zimbabwe, knowing the Australian Achille's heel which is spin, opened the attack with a spinner. The Aussie strategy was not to lose early wickets and ony 65 runs were scored in the first 20 overs ! No Jayasuria Kaluwitharan stuff. No " Hit them, hit them and hit them" of Jayasuria ( Some opine that Srikanth was the precursor of this style of batting, which was modified by Greatbach and Sachin. In the 1983 WC final, Srikanth hooked, pulled and cut the giant fast bowlers of the West Indies ! ).

This 65 runs off 20, reminded one of the ignorant days of the Powerplay. But then, the Aussies had a clear cut stratey against the Zim spinners. Once they got a solid base, then the Aussie batsmen led by Clarke went on the rampage. Then with a devastating spell of genuine fast bowling, Johnson tore through the Zim batting order and Aussies won comfortably !

Let all teams beware ! This will be the Kangaroo strategy against all teams. Protect wickets in the first 30 overs and then launch blitzkreigs. They have Cameroon White and other hitters who can be devastating on their days. Other teams beware ! They are the defending champions and dont be led by the media hype !

That John Wright has been included as coach gives relief to the already pressurised New Zealanders. After all, Wright was the Indian coach and he knows Indian conditions well. There are some positive indications for New Zealand batting. Guptill is in form and Jesse Ryder can be dangerous on his day.

It is surprising that Bollingwer was left out of the last match. He most probably will be there in the next match, feels Waugh.