Australia need to show more aggression

Australia started their World Cup campaign with a performance that was more than adequate, but less than astounding. They did not look sharp or purposeful and it was a dour staid performance for which I would give six marks out of ten. However, it was their first game and one has to give leeway to the side since there is a long way to go in this 40-day tournament. The batsmen were looking to get time in the middle and the pace bowlers had a good outing, and eventually I guess the team got what they were looking for, a solid base for building momentum.

Australia now face New Zealand, a side that must be grappling with the devastating news of the earthquake back home. They would not only be affected by this news, but normally a team would play with a lot of passion and emotion under such circumstances. I expect New Zealand to do the same and they will try to win a game against their archrivals to bring some joy in these difficult times.

The New Zealand team has been in a bit of a rut of late and have lost an incredible number of games considering the players they have in the side. Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee are all quality players, but they seem to be lacking some ingredient. Their bowling is a little suspect because they depend too heavily on Vettori, and this is an area that has cost them recently. In India, they would be looking to their attacking batsmen to absorb more pressure and help the bowlers by posting big totals. Tomorrow's game in Nagpur could be a high-scoring one, and Australia would need to lift their game by 20 per cent against New Zealand. I would put this Kiwi side alongside West Indies and Pakistan as one who can upset anybody on their day.

All Australia need to do now is to show more aggression, intent and purpose. They were a little dormant in the warm-ups as well as the first game. They should now look at gradually showcasing their 'A' game so that subsequent opponents know that they are in for a serious challenge.

The least subdued part of Australia's performance against Zimbabwe apparently played out in the dressing room, involving Ricky. Cricketers have given
vent to their emotions in dressing rooms since the beginning of the game, and it's just increased the increased media focus and scrutiny that has brought this incident into the public domain. It was a freak dismissal and Ricky was steaming between the ears, but I'm sure he did not mean to cause any damage. Knowing Ricky, he must have left the incident behind him and would be focusing on the trans-Tasman face-off tomorrow.