Aussies go out favourites to win first final (10 February 1999)

10 February 1999

Aussies go out favourites to win first final

Elmo Rodrigopulle

SYDNEY, Australia, Tuesday - Australia go out favourites to win the Carlton and United trophy when they play the first of three finals against England at the Sydney cricket ground under lights here tomorrow.

Every game that these teams have played have been watched by a full house and it should be no different this time too. It will be a game that both sides will be keen to win so as to draw first blood and hold the advantage.

The wicket at the SCG has always been spin friendly and the teams will be relying on spin to bring them victory. Australia have Shane Warne and Mark Waugh with Daren Lehmann for support. England will look to Robert Croft and Ashley Giles.

The Aussies are the better side and will have the advantage of playing before their home crowd. But the Englishmen too will have their supporters - 'the Barmy Army' - yelling for them from the first ball.

Winning the toss and batting first will be advantageous because the wicket will take vicious spin as the game progresses. This was evident in the game between Sri Lanka and England where the Lankan spinners turned the ball viciously to undo the Englishmen.

England will be looking to dismiss the quick scoring left-hander Adam Gilchrist early and not let Australia off to a flying start. If Gilchrist is allowed to settle down he is sure to spray the English bowlers all over the field and over it as well.

Gilchrist is a clean hitter of the ball. He has a good eye, sees the ball early and with his superb timing sends the ball screeching to the fence. Not to get him early will mean chasing leather for the Englishmen. Mark Waugh, Gilchrist's partner has not been scoring quickly preferring to play second fiddle to his dashing partner. Waugh is an accumulator of runs and if Gilchrist is out early, it could curb his natural stroke-play.

Ricky Ponting is a poor starter and if allowed to blossom could be dangerous. But the man who could have a big say as to which way this game will go will be left-handed allrounder Michael Bevan. He is challenging strongly to be the best player in this type of game and will like to add to his stature. Darren Lehmann who has been dropped from the squad to the Caribbean later this month will be determined to prove to the selectors and embarrass them. He too is an exciting left-hander. Damien Martyn too is another batsman who could take charge.

As for the bowling they will be relying on Glen McGrath for an early breakthrough for Shane Lee and Shane Warne to come on and bundle out the opponents.

England will be hoping that prolific scorer Gream Hick will get going. When he scores the other batsmen latch on and England post a formidable total. Skipper Alec Stewart and Nick Knight must endeavour to give their side a platform to build on. Nasser Hussain is another batsman who could trouble the scorers. England will be hoping that Neil Fairbrother is fit to play after pulling a hamstring. He is an exciting left-hander and is pretty to watch.

The two bowlers that England will be looking to dismiss the Aussies or put the brakes on their scoring are Darren Gough and Allan Mullaly. If Gough is fully fit then the Aussie batsmen will be struggling. Mullaly too has been dangerous in his first spell. He has scalped Gilchrist many times in this tourney and will be hoping to repeat.

However the team excelling in fielding should come out winners. In this aspect the Aussies are ahead with their sure catching, excellent ground fielding and hitting the stumps with their clever returns.

This is the first out of best of three, with the second in Melbourne on Friday and the third if required also in Melbourne on Sunday.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)