By Tony Becca - From The Boundary 
Tony Becca
CRICKET IS so unpredictable and one-day cricket even more so that one never knows what will happen from one day to another much more during a tournament.
Such is the strength of Australia, however, it seems unlikely, very unlikely, that they will not contest the final of the World Cup on March 23. In fact, it is also unlikely that they will not win the Cup.
The big favourites going into the tournament, Australia were expected to march through the field easily, and despite losing ace legspinner Shane Warne and then number two pacer Jason Gillespie, they are doing just that.
After winning all six matches in the first round and then two in the Super Six second round, it is now eight from eight, and although they have stumbled twice and probably should have fallen once, the way they are going it should be 11 from 11 when it is all over.
Against England, they were chasing 205 and were 114 for seven and 135 for eight before Michael Bevan with 74 not out and Andy Bichel 34 not out pulled them home at 208 for eight; against New Zealand yesterday, they were 84 for seven before, thanks to Bevan and Bichel who scored 56 and 64 respectively, they recovered to 208 for nine and then destroyed New Zealand for 112 in 30.1 overs; and based on those two performances - those two failures by their top batsmen, it would appear that they are not as strong as many believe and that they are lucky.
Class is class, however, and on both occasions and as they did while dismissing India for 125 and strolling to 128 for one, when they chalked up 170 for two off 36 overs and then routed the Netherlands for 122, when they allowed Zimbabwe to reach 246 for nine but then chipped to 248 for three, when they scored 301 for six and then nailed Namibia for 45, and when, after sailing to 293 for two, they blasted Sri Lanka, boasting the likes of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, for 319 for five and then skittled them for 223, Australia demonstrated their class.
Great teams are not those teams that are strong in some areas and weak in others; and champion teams are not those teams that are brilliant when things are going well and who crumble under pressure - who fall when things are not going well.
Great teams are those that are strong in every department of the game; champion teams are those that recover to win when defeat steers them in the face; and Australia proved that they are great and that they are champions on both occasions.
On both occasions they were reeling.
On one occasion they recovered because of their depth in batting - the ability of their bowlers to bat. On the other occasion, and in the absence of both Warne and Gillespie, they recovered because of the strength of their bowling and their fielding.
Great teams, champion teams, are also those who fear no one, and based on how they have played so far, based on how they attacked Sri Lanka's bowlers and knocked them around, this Australian team fears no one and although there are three matches to go before they can lift the trophy and pocket the winners' prize of US$2 million, they should fear no one.
Next in Australia's sights are Kenya, after that it could be Kenya again, New Zealand or Sri Lanka in the semi-finals, after that it could be India in the final, and there is no reason why the Aussies should fear any of them.
Kenya are unlikely to do unto Australia what they did to the West Indies in 1996 and to Sri Lanka in this tournament, and although losers have come back as winners, Australia have already knocked off India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in this tournament - one by nine wickets, one by 96 runs, and one also by 96 runs.
One never knows what will happen down the road, but for Australia, so far so good. After yesterday's display, they certainly appear invincible.
