Tait or Johnson- Zimbabwe coach
(REUTERS)-Australia’s formidable quartet of fast bowlers hold no fear for Zimbabwe and the Africans do not rule out finally snapping their 29-match winning streak at the World Cup, coach Alan Butcher said yesterday.
Australia’s pace battery of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson, who are backed up by Doug Bollinger , would be enough to worry most batting line-ups but Zimbabwe feel comforted by the knowledge that they know what to expect.
“They have four quicks and we have a fair idea how they bowl. If we play our best cricket and they don’t, we may have a chance,” Butcher told reporters on the eve of his team’s Group A clash with the four-times world champions today.
“The longer the winning run is, the closer it might be to coming to an end.”
However, Butcher conceded the chances were stacked against his men.
“If both sides play their best cricket, it’s very likely that we will lose,” he added, perhaps remembering his side have not beaten a Test-playing nation in the 50-over World Cup for 12 years.
Ricky Ponting’s side will look to stamp their authority once again in today’s Group A encounter following two heavy warm-up defeats by co-hosts India and South Africa.
No longer considered the force which clinched the trophy in 1999, 2003 and 2007, Australia still clearly have enough firepower and talent within their ranks to sweep aside a team they have beaten in every one of their last 25 ODI meetings.
To all intent and purposes, Australia are likely to treat today’s match as a practice session to cover their shortcomings in the spin department.
Their defeats against India and South Africa and the batsmen’s failure to smother spin on both occasions have left considerable doubts about their ability to prevail once more in the subcontinent.
Former England batsman Butcher’s strategy actually may suit Australia well, giving them the opportunity to focus on a weak part of their performance so far in the subcontinent.
“We decided that by and large, the spinners are our best bowlers. That’s going to be our strength tomorrow (Monday),” Butcher said.