Australia have allowed themselves the thought of sweeping all 10 limited overs games this summer as they prepare to seal the series against Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on Australia Day.
It has not taken the Australians long to demonstrate their pre-eminence in the shortened format of the game, winning comfortably in Brisbane before dealing out a fearful hiding to the Pakistanis in sporting conditions at the SCG.
Another victory in Adelaide would make it 3-0, and the in-form batsman Cameron White said the prospect of scooping all 10 matches - another five are scheduled against West Indies in February - loomed on the horizon.
"It's not out of the question," White said on Monday.
"But 10 games in a row is pretty hard to do against any opposition, especially two quality opponents.
"So that would be a great achievement but ... it's going to be hard work to do."
White said the Australians' task was being made easier by dissension in the ranks of their opponents, after Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf was apparently told by board chairman Ijaz Butt that he would lose the captaincy at the conclusion of the series.
Butt's comments have since been described by the Pakistan board as "quotes out of context", but there is little doubt the touring team is not the happiest of squads.
"I don't think it makes it harder, that's for sure," said White.
"If there's turmoil in the camp ... or there's that sort of talk I think it can only be a distraction for them so it probably makes our job, if they're not thinking about the right things, a little easier if anything."
A century in game one and 55 in game two have White in the best touch of his life, and he hoped for more runs at Adelaide.
"It's just been nice to get the opportunity again," he said.
"I guess starting back a couple of series ago in England when Ricky was rested, to get another opportunity to bat up the order was great and I've just enjoyed it since then, so it's going well at the moment."
Pakistan have the benefit of considerable local knowledge for the Adelaide match, given recent stints by both Younus Khan and Shahid Afridi with South Australia.
Afridi said he had spoken to teammates about the oval, which has had its capacity reduced to around 17,500 by the construction of new stands on the western side of the ground.
"I have told the guys it is very similar to our sub-continent wickets and the ground is very small," Afridi told reporters in Adelaide.
"The next game we play is very crucial for us. From there we can decide the series. We have to win.
"We need to win one game first and morale will be higher. Then we will think about the fourth and fifth game."
Swing bowler Ryan Harris has been added to the Australian squad as cover for sore paceman Peter Siddle.
Selectors chose to add Harris to the squad after Siddle complained of back soreness following game two.
Squads:
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White (two to be omitted, 12th man tba).
Pakistan: Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Sarfraz Ahmed (four to be omitted, 12th man tba).
No comments:
Post a Comment