Chance To Land An Early Blow To Poms

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday October 7, 2006

Trevor Marshallsea

THE ICC Champions Trophy has never really counted for much in cricket's broader landscape, its reputation being that of an experimental tournament which further clogs the calendar, has an ever-changing format, and which has included teams of such ill repute as the US.

Perhaps that is why Australia, well nourished by winning bigger things, have never gone past the semi-finals in the four editions of the event dubbed the mini-World Cup.

But so much in cricket has changed since the seismic event that was Australia losing last year's Ashes. Partly as a consequence, as the Australians left Brisbane for India yesterday for another crack at repairing their Achilles heel, assurances of their resolve and commitment seemed more believable than before.

This is coach John Buchanan's last chance to claim the only significant trophy to have eluded Australia during a reign as coach which will end next year. But another, more important, source of motivation is that since the Ashes it seems one-day cricket does have relevance to Test matches after all.

When England became Australia's latest Champions Trophy spoilers in an Edgbaston semi-final in 2004, both sides dismissed any significance for the following year's Ashes. Now that England have won them, however, it seems that has changed.

With a certain Test series against England looming next month, Buchanan said yesterday that when the two teams meet for the first time since last year's Ashes, in Jaipur on October 21 in their second group game, there will be more at stake than their ambitions in India.

"In his Ashes diary [England coach] Duncan Fletcher said that when England beat us in that semi-final in 2004, they used it as a barometer for where they were at in relation to us. They took great comfort and confidence from that and took it into the Ashes," Buchanan said. "It will be interesting to see where England are at this time. Our game against them will have more than just one-day interest in it.

"It will be interesting to see how they stack up. They haven't played one-day cricket too well recently, they've tried a lot of players, and Andrew Flintoff will be back from injury."

A major talking point from Edgbaston two years ago - when England passed Australia's 9-259 with six wickets in hand - was the treatment dished out to Glenn McGrath in his 0-46 from eight overs. McGrath is again a big issue this time around, as the 36-year-old continues his comeback from a long lay-off to care for his ill wife Jane, a comeback which began with Australia's success in the recent tri-nations series in Malaysia. McGrath was the tournament's most economical bowler at 2.73 runs per over through 26 overs in four matches, but took only one wicket for an average of 71.

"Glenn made steady progress in Malaysia and he'll be continuing his climb back in India, in terms of his legs, his body and his mind," Buchanan said.

Shane Watson has emerged as the selectors' top choice for the No.6 position in the Ashes, but will need a strong Champions Trophy to shore up that position. In Malaysia he scored only 99 runs in four innings, including 79 in one knock, and an only fair seven wickets with the ball.

"This is another chance for Shane to take a step up, and he's definitely showing signs of maturing as a player, with bat and ball and as a member of this team," Buchanan said.

Though the Ashes will not be far from the Australians' minds, Buchanan is confident the tournament favourites and top-ranked ODI side will have enough focus on the job at hand in this more streamlined eight-team edition of the event.

"It's a piece of unfinished business for us, and it'd be nice to actually win it," Buchanan said.

Captain Ricky Ponting indicated his side might be better prepared for this Champions Trophy than others.

"We feel we'll be well prepared coming off the [Malaysia] win. We'll have some warm-up matches over there, be familiar with the conditions and hope to put in big performances at the big moments in the competition," Ponting said.

"I'm confident we've got a talented and confident squad going into this competition who really want to win it. We've tended to have good success in one-day cricket in India."

AUSTRALIA'S GROUP A SCHEDULE

Oct 18 v qualifier, Mumbai

Oct 21 v England, Jaipur

Oct 29 v India, Mohali

AUSTRALIA'S CHAMPIONS TROPHY RECORD

1998 (Bangladesh): Lost first match to India by 44 runs, knocked out.

2000 (Kenya): Lost first match to India by 20 runs, knocked out.

2002 (Sri Lanka): Lost semi-final to Sri Lanka by 7 wickets.

2004 (England): Lost

semi-final to England by 6 wickets.