I am looking forward to playing India

Ricky Ponting

It's been a challenge for Australia to come straight into this tournament with no acclimatization or practise. True, we were in the heat of battle during the recently-concluded one-dayers against England, but conditions here are vastly different from the ones we had gotten used to in England.

Our opening game was played in really difficult conditions, and the pitch at the Wanderers was borderline dangerous when we started our innings. Paine got a few sharp raps on his knuckles as the ball was moving and rising dangerously. Mitchell Johnson help us get to a very good total on that track, which helped us win quite comfortably in the end. The devils in the wicket had been laid when the sun dried out the wicket, and we had to defend our total in much more batsman-friendly conditions.

The tournament has been a little bit of a lottery especially in the day games. Sri Lanka got a rough one when they batted against England in very difficult conditions. It's early summer in South Africa and early starts, particularly at the Wanderers should have been avoided.

The Indians have been hit hard by the absence of Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag. These guys are really good in conditions like those at Centurion, and MS Dhoni felt their absence during India’s game against Pakistan. That said, it was a close game and India were in with a chance till the last 10 overs.

The loss to Pakistan makes tomorrow’s game a must-win for India. We are pretty confident going into this game primarily because all our players are fit and we have a full squad to pick from.

Michael Clarke, who was struggling with his back, has a good chance of being match-fit tomorrow, and that will be a big boost for us. It also helps that this is a day-night game, which means the match will be better balanced. However, there was a bit of dew in the evening, which was a bit hard for the spinners.

It's been a long time since we have played a one-dayer against the Indians, and I am looking forward to playing them. This tournament is a lot more open than many of the earlier editions. There are quite a few teams that fancy their chances of winning and India is certainly one of them. However, with the injuries list including some key players, there is a lot of pressure on their others at the moment, and we need to capitalize on this.

Although I despise Brett Lee, I will admit that he did a fine job for Australia, 5 for 49, even I am impressed. Not only that, but I stand corrected. Tim Paine might be useless as a keeper but he can actually bat, he made his first international half century. 

I haven't used my evil laugh in such a long time. This seams to be appropriate, though. Stuart Broad will not be playing in the 3rd ODI against Australia. Now you might think I'm insane, because the man played a vital role in England's quest, regaining The Ashes. Don't confuse me for an English fan, friends. Just because I am a follower of Team Luke Wright doesn't mean I am all for England. I do admit that I enjoy seeing Australia suffer. Like I have mentioned to Purna, it is imprinted in my DNA to side with Australia's opposition.

As England battled out the fight victory was immanently clear for Australia. It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, a young Hobbit, Luke Wright, was sent in to try and save Middle-Earth (If you are from the UK then go look in your Atlas, you will find that the British Isles are in the middle of the World Map).


Eagerly, this brave Halfling took on the battle and slayed 38 Orcs by his sword with only 27 slashes. But it was too much for the Hobbit, he alone could not save Middle-Earth. This fight had been lost but the war isn't over, yet.

Sri Lanka has beaten Australia out of the T20 World Cup. Best news of the day!

As much as I was hoping that South Africa would get a match against Australia, I can't help but be delighted that they have fallen out in just the first round. What an unpredictable T20 World Cup this has become. (Be reminded that South Africa won their warm-up game against Sri Lanka.)

All credit is going to Mendis. It was such a pleasure to watch this young lad perform. He has earned a place in my top players list. Well done. Just to note, he played for KKR. Seems like all the Knights are performing in the WC.

I really dislike Shane Watson. He is a prick. I will start a boncam's most disliked player list, just in honour of him.