00:00 Hi, I'm Ayaz Memon with the World Cup Update.
00:02 We've got Australia versus Netherlands.
00:04 It's an uphill task for Netherlands, without doubt.
00:07 They're one of the teams that qualified.
00:09 Australia have been five times former champions.
00:11 And in the last match against Pakistan,
00:13 they've come roaring back into form.
00:15 We saw what David Warner and Mitch Marsh did
00:18 to the hapless Pakistan bowler.
00:19 So it might look like a gross mismatch,
00:22 but the Dutch will draw succor and inspiration
00:25 from how Afghanistan has been playing.
00:28 Just the other night, Afghanistan beat Pakistan.
00:31 Before that, they had beaten England.
00:33 So they've been on a giant killing spree.
00:36 And Netherlands themselves have had a good match in the past.
00:39 They've beaten South Africa,
00:41 which is amongst the highest-flying teams.
00:42 So as I keep saying in sport, expect the unexpected.
00:47 Having said that, look, Australia,
00:49 they've got their mojo back.
00:51 They've got runs from David Warner and Mitch Marsh.
00:53 The top order was a bit of a problem for Australia.
00:57 They seem to have sorted that out.
00:59 Though they need more runs from Steve Smith and Labusheh.
01:02 And if he's still playing,
01:03 or Travis Sett is going to be included,
01:04 we don't know as yet.
01:05 But where Australia have benefited
01:08 is in the good form or return to form
01:11 of leg spinner Adam Zampa.
01:13 It just gives their attack that much more edge.
01:15 The fast bowlers, Stark, Cummins, Hazelwood,
01:19 have been steady.
01:21 But Zampa was looking a little out of sorts
01:23 in the first couple of matches.
01:25 He's come back strongly
01:26 and is looking a completely different team.
01:28 This Australian team, once it gets into its rhythm,
01:31 into its groove, it can become a juggernaut.
01:33 And that is something that not just the Dutch,
01:36 but other teams in this tournament
01:38 will be a little concerned about or worried about.
01:41 Where the Dutch are concerned,
01:42 look, I think the pressure on them is zero.
01:45 The pressure is entirely on Australia
01:47 to live up to their reputation.
01:48 So that helps not having pressure
01:50 because you have nothing to lose, everything to gain.
01:55 They've got some good performances,
01:57 beating South Africa was one of them.
02:01 They've got some very good players.
02:03 May not be the star players
02:04 that we've seen in some of the other teams,
02:06 but Bash Dhalid and Vikram Singh, Ackerman.
02:10 These are guys who are,
02:12 you know, they've got good skills.
02:15 They don't have that much depth of experience.
02:18 That could be their shortcoming.
02:20 But having said that, as I mentioned earlier,
02:23 that this is a World Cup where upsets have emerged.
02:27 We've already had three upsets.
02:30 Netherlands involved in one, Afghanistan involved in two.
02:33 So I'm not going to write off an upset
02:37 or something extraordinary,
02:39 just because on paper, Australia seemed that much better.
02:42 Australia, odds on favorites,
02:44 but as they say in Hindi,
02:46 "Kuch bhi ho sakta hai."
02:48 (upbeat music)
02:50 (upbeat music)
02:53 (upbeat music)
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