It is still raining at 8: 15 AM in Melbourne. It is 14 February, the Valentines Day .The opening match of ICC world cup 2015. A full house about 100,000 is expected at iconic MCG, many of them may be Barmy Army.
But it will be really sad if it gets washed out. On form and fitness Australia is firm favorite of winning the first match. England is not looking good enough to even creating any contest in the match. But since the name of the game is cricket nothing should be told as firm and fixed about the outcome of any cricket match.
In recent time Australia has won almost all ODI matches since getting shocked and awed at the hands of volatile Pakistanis in the desert of UAE. Australia won the Tri Nation (England, Australia and India) in style.
Australia also won both practice matches leading to the world cup. England outplayed India in tri nation tournament but was out played by Australia .They lost to Pakistan in their practice match.
Cricket experts and analysts predict a one way traffic happening at MCG .Australia has won 11 of their last 12 ODIs including 4-1 victory over very strong South Africa.
Australia has possibly the strongest batting line up and bats deep till number 10. Mitchell Starc has a test innings of 99. Australian pace battery of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood can rattle any team.
England will really find it tough going against a team brimming with confidence. The only missing links in the tournament opener may be injury to top finisher Faulkner and still recovering captain Michael Clark. No team can boast of a batting line up – Warner, Flinch, Watson, Bailey, Smith, Maxwell, Mitch Marsh , Haddin , Johnson , Starc and Cummins .
Australia is now ICC top ranked team in ODI. Australia is not only considered favorite for this match they are also firm favorites to win the trophy a record fifth time. On known condition in front of home crowd kangaroos are expected to make a kick start to their campaign. Even without Clark and Faulkner they are a very formidable team.
England though failed to win many in recent times has some good players if not great in their side .They changed the captain in recent time bringing in Ireland born Eoin Morgan to the charge.
England has not won a ODI series for almost a year. England also did not reach semifinal of a world cup since 1992 when they appeared in the final at MCG against Pakistan in the lost cause. England lost 13 of their last 15 ODIs against Australia.
England has a reasonably strong bowling unit. Anderson can swing the ball even on a glass surface; Broad and Finn are both very competent new ball operators. England has to bat well consistently to win matches in the world cup. The early order of Bell, Moeen Ali and Taylor have to wither the storm of Johnson and co to let Morgan, Butler, Roots and Bopara produce competitive scores.
Finally Rain may cause frustration.. It has been raining cats and dogs since last evening. But the match can still get through even if rain stops a few hours before the match.
The drainage system at MCG will make the surface ready very quickly. 100,000 expectant crowds including us are keeping our fingers crossed. As I am writing this the other match at Hagley Oval between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at very cold condition is about to start.
Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Steven Smith, 5 George Bailey (capt), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Mitchell Marsh, 8 Brad Haddin (wk), 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
England (probable): 1 Ian Bell, 2 Moeen Ali, 3 James Taylor, 4, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Ravi Boyar, 7 Jos Buttler, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Steve Finn, 11 James Anderson.
BDST: 0447 HRS, FEB 14, 2015
