Australia to win the tri-series – Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke, the Captain of Australian Cricket team was positive that they will win the forthcoming One Day International tri-series, involving India and Sri Lanka.

Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke

The national team has recently white washed against the visiting Indian team 4-0 in the Test series and have become a winning unit under his inspiring leadership. The entire team performed well in the longest versions of the game, the batsmen scored heavily and the bowlers were unplayable by the visitors.

Michael Clarke lead the squad from the front and runs were showering from his bat throughout the series. He was the highest run scorer from either side by thrashing 626 runs at above par average of 125.20, the best of unbeaten 329 runs with two tons.

India lost five matches in a row on their ongoing tour of Australia,which included the first Twenty20, at Stadium Australia, Sydney, by 31 runs on February 1, 2012. They came back strongly in the second T20, on the 3rd February, 2012 while winning the encounter by a big margin of eight wickets.

They proved their worth by excellent team work and their ground fielding earned them the much required victory after a drought of 16 away games. Four of the Aussies batsmen were run out by their acrobatic fielding which made a huge difference. Clarke praised the Indian team after they won the second ODI by commenting

India is a very good team…the way they fielded last night is how you need to field in cricket. Fielding is a big part of our game and I certainly wasn’t surprised by how they fielded. They are a very good outfit, there are some really good athletes in that team.

The Kangaroos are rated as no.1 team in the current world ranking and have performed excellently in the recent past. They butchered Bangladesh in the three ODI series 3-0 at their home in April, 2011. The winning spree was continued when they won the five ODIs away series against Sri Lanka authoritatively 3-2, in August, 2011. South Africa lost the three matches ODI series 1-2 against the visiting Australians in October, 2011.

India is the current ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011, champions and team carries a blend of youth and experience. They have the potentials to beat any team of the world on their day by their sheer team work.

Sri Lankans were the runner up of the grand World Cup tournament in 2011 and India beat them in the final. They have tuned themselves with the bouncy tracks while playing Test and ODIs in South Africa which concluded in January, 2012. A tough fight was given to the home side, the Protes, who won the five ODI series by a margin 3-2.

Clarke was well aware of the capabilities of both teams but was still convinced that they can beat them and win the tournament by performing well. He said,

We have to play at our best to beat both these teams. They were both in the final of most recent world cup. We’re the number one one-day team in the world so I’d like to think we are favourites.

Australia will face India in the inaugural match of the tri-series on February 5, 2012, and Clarke was anticipating winning straight away.


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