With distinct teams set focus to prepare for the upcoming 2019 World Cup, former Australian captain Michael Clarke has maintained that best team would not feel daunted owing to the ‘favourites’ tag for the ODI showpiece, commencing on May 30 in the United Kingdom (UK).
Clarke stressed the pressure of being favourites to lift the coveted trophy would not bother team. However, it would help the top-notch teams to excel in the multi-nation tournament.
Besides, Clarke thoroughly stressed that it’s the mindset of the players to leave an impact. He believes the positive intent would be crucial for the teams that have ticked all the boxes to lay hands on the trophy.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong about being the favourites, it’s all about the attitude,” Clarke told India Today.
Also, the 37-year-old Clarke announced retirement from International cricket in 2015. He won the World Cup for Australia while routing Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand by seven wickets in Melbourne.
In a bid to excel in such circumstances distinct teams have relied on their senior campaigners for their way forward.
Recently, ex-cricketers maintained England and India as favourites to seal the trophy.
In addition, the faction of cricketing fraternity put forth the prediction by saying Australia has all the potential to go long way in the mega tourney.
Consistency and the wealth of experience:
While citing the example of Australia winning the World Cup in 2007, Clarke maintained the unit has delivered according to the expectations to clinch World Cup on the Caribbean soil.
In Barbados on April 28, 2007, Australia won the third successive World Cup trophy and fourth overall by thrashing Sri Lanka by 53 runs owing to the Duckworth Lewis-method.
Interestingly, to decimate the teams, the then Ricky Ponting-led side won all of their 11 matches before thumping Lions in the grand finale.
“I think back in 2007, when Australia won the World Cup in the Caribbean, we were the favourites. We didn’t lose a single game and went on to win the World Cup,” Clarke stated.
The veteran right-handed batsman Clarke had played a quintessential role for Australia. He revealed the ‘favourites’ tag quite often works in favour of the top nations. Also, he reminisced that time around Australia was banking on the wealth of experience. Subsequently, it has paved the way for Australia’s success.
At times it’s hard to live upto the expectations:
“The tag of the favourites perhaps enhanced the way we wanted to play, like favourites. Yes we had so much of experience in that team and that perhaps made it easier as well,” Clarke concluded.
While considering such a cricketing pinnacle, Clarke believes it becomes hard to scale, at times.
“Sometimes I do feel that if you put a tournament at a very high pedestal. It may be hard to reach sometimes,” Clarke said.
Meanwhile, Australia is facing India in the five-match One-day International series. Earlier, the visitors clinch the two-match Twenty20 International series 2-0 by winning both games in Vizag and Bengaluru respectively.