Lining up for the big race

When I asked the Aussie captain how he was hitting the ball, he smiled with a knowing grin and simply nodded his head. Watching Ricky Ponting in the practice nets, it was no surprise to see him race to 35 in fewer deliveries. When he chopped one on to his stumps, it reminded me of how fickle this game called cricket can be. One lapse in concentration - and it doesn't matter how well a player is seeing the ball: it only takes one to send him back to the pavilion.

As usual Mark Waugh was hitting every ball in the centre of his long-bladed bat, and Michael Bevan seemed as leopard-like as ever. Summing it up, Australia are looking more like a stable full of form thoroughbreds than one Red Rum or Shergar.

Their victory at Lords today will add more dry wood to the flames of confidence. From the point of view of Sandy Gordon, the Australian sport psycholgist, the overall performances have been very promising, as every player has played a part. "There hasn't been any out-and-out stars, everyone is chipping in with good performances when it counts. Usually Glenn McGrath, Mark Waugh or Warney dominate the honors, but so far everyone is playing a part."

Although there is still a long way to go in this competition, the smart money will be heading the Aussies' way. Anything can happen on the day in a one-day encounter, but if my countrymen continue with their extremely positive style of play they will be hard to beat next time they visit cricket's Mecca.

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