Australia's players are preparing for the toughest of starts to their World Cup defence against in consistent Pakistan on Tuesday in a repeat of the 1999 final.Although Australia have won 10 of the 15 one-day matches between the sides since their crushing eight-wicket victory at Lord's four years ago, Pakistan were the last team to win a limited-overs series against the world champions.
"It's definitely a danger match for us," Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist told Reuters. "Any team will look at their first game as being one that can potentially set up the tournament for them.
"Against a really un predictable Pakistani line-up we are going to have to be right on our toes," Australia's vice captain said. "We know them when they are playing well and they aren't playing well, so we'll just have to make sure we are preparing for them when they are in form."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting is determined to avoid the slow start the side made to the 1999 tournament, when they lost two of their first three games against New Zealand and Pakistan.
"Our first two games are against Pakistan and India who are going to be two of the better sides right through the World Cup so it's really important for us that we get off to a much better start than we did in 1999," Ponting said.
"We were behind the eight-ball for most of the World Cup... and we don't want to be in that situation again."
Australia's preparations have gone smoothly, the world champions losing only two of their last 15 one-day internationals before arriving in South Africa last week.
"The guys have been playing some good cricket," fast bowler Glenn McGrath said. "But we won't be taking Pakistan lightly because they are a little bit of an unpredictable team.
"They've got a lot of very good individual players, they can turn a match any day.
"We'll be ready for that. They are a bit hot and cold, if you get a cold day you can wipe them, if you get a hot day they can do anything."
ANWAR BOOST
Pakistan, who won a one-day series in Australia 2-1 last June, will be further boosted by the return of prolific opening batsman Saeed Anwar.
"We know what a good player he is," McGrath said. "He'scertainly one of their biggest threats and we'll be trying toget him back in the shed early.
"We've always regarded him as a very classy player. He's a tough guy to bowl to at the top of the order and he's got all the shots."
Gilchrist thinks the games against Pakistan and India will set the tone for Australia.
"It could give us a real launching pad for the rest of the series but if the results don't go our way it can put you in a real dog-fight for the rest of the tournament," he said
"It's definitely a danger match for us," Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist told Reuters. "Any team will look at their first game as being one that can potentially set up the tournament for them.
"Against a really un predictable Pakistani line-up we are going to have to be right on our toes," Australia's vice captain said. "We know them when they are playing well and they aren't playing well, so we'll just have to make sure we are preparing for them when they are in form."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting is determined to avoid the slow start the side made to the 1999 tournament, when they lost two of their first three games against New Zealand and Pakistan.
"Our first two games are against Pakistan and India who are going to be two of the better sides right through the World Cup so it's really important for us that we get off to a much better start than we did in 1999," Ponting said.
"We were behind the eight-ball for most of the World Cup... and we don't want to be in that situation again."
Australia's preparations have gone smoothly, the world champions losing only two of their last 15 one-day internationals before arriving in South Africa last week.
"The guys have been playing some good cricket," fast bowler Glenn McGrath said. "But we won't be taking Pakistan lightly because they are a little bit of an unpredictable team.
"They've got a lot of very good individual players, they can turn a match any day.
"We'll be ready for that. They are a bit hot and cold, if you get a cold day you can wipe them, if you get a hot day they can do anything."
ANWAR BOOST
Pakistan, who won a one-day series in Australia 2-1 last June, will be further boosted by the return of prolific opening batsman Saeed Anwar.
"We know what a good player he is," McGrath said. "He'scertainly one of their biggest threats and we'll be trying toget him back in the shed early.
"We've always regarded him as a very classy player. He's a tough guy to bowl to at the top of the order and he's got all the shots."
Gilchrist thinks the games against Pakistan and India will set the tone for Australia.
"It could give us a real launching pad for the rest of the series but if the results don't go our way it can put you in a real dog-fight for the rest of the tournament," he said
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