New Zealand Vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Auckland

I still Love you, Fulton. But my family, Capulets, will kill me for consorting with a Montague

New Zealand won the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy chasing down a huge score of 336 runs. This is Australia's 5th straight loss and the Aussies are worried that the world might be coming to an end. We still stand by what we said here. There is no need to panic. These results have no bearing on the World Cup. Our worry now is that this will thoroughly wake up the Australians who seem to have been cruising a little bit after the Ashes whitewash. We like a cruising Australia better since they are vulnerable.

What we are happy about is the kernel of doubt planted in the Australian side. We don't think much will come off it, but it still makes us happy to see that the Aussies look mortal now. If not anything, this should teach John Buchanan a valuable lesson. He should have shown a little class by not ridiculing his opponents. Sadly, class and John Buchanan are strangers. Buchanan would not know class even if it came and bit him in the arse.

Ponting's arrival at the World Cup will steady the ship. They will play the warm up matches seriously, crush their opponents and the problems plaguing them will seem to vanish. We believe that Australia is still the team to beat in this World Cup.

On a brighter note, The Australian bowling looks terrible. McGrath is not looking sharp. More often than not, we see McGrath shaking his head, which is his way of saying "I am bowling like crap". The head shaking has reached such proportions that we are seriously worried (not really) that his head might fall off one of these days. Brad Hogg does not look like a wicket taking threat. I think this is where the Australians will miss Andrew Symonds most.

Anyway, no need to worry right now. Time to worry would be when the Australians get knocked out of the Super 8's in the World Cup.