Writing off Australia could be a big mistake

It has been a long campaign for the boys from Down Under, having been on the road of international cricket for the last ten months. There have been few pit stops along the route and although they will never use fatigue as an excuse it is an obstacle that will have to be overcome. Knowing the guys, who would no doubt have been a little shocked in the Cardiff dressing room this evening, my prediction is that today could be exactly the spur they need to fight back. While I am copping major hassles from my Middlesex teammates I continue to remind them that this is a long tournament with the Super Six rounds and final being the time to peak. Writing off the Aussies is a big mistake at this early stage, even though they will be desperate to regain their best form.

As for New Zealand, I predicted before the tournament that they would be a competitive outfit and they proved this today with an excellent all round display of one-day cricket. A much improved team, who now have a core of experienced players, they will gain a monumental confidence boost after beating their arch rivals. While they don't have a team of superstars like today's other victors, Pakistan, they look to be a tightly knit team who are living up to their dark-horse reputation predicted early in the competition. If nothing else, today's results give the competition a very interesting complexion after two completed rounds.

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