Australia have kickstarted their winning campaign in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 with an impressive victory over Sri Lanka in a match that took place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
The win comes as a much-needed boost for the Australian team, following defeats in their previous encounters against India and South Africa. In the wake of this emphatic triumph, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has shared his insights into Australia’s future performance in the tournament.
Doull’s prediction on Australia’s chances
Australia, after a shaky start in the tournament, showcased their prowess against the Islanders, convincingly securing their first win. The Aussies have had a formidable track record against certain teams, which has led Doull to make optimistic predictions about their journey in the World Cup.
The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Australia are set to face teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand in the coming fixtures, and historically, they have rarely faltered against these sides in World Cups.
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“I said a couple of nights ago, they’ve got four teams in a row that they do not lose to at world cups. They don’t lose very often, like Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand; they don’t lose to those sides at world cups, so they can easily go on a run, they could be 8 points in the next week and a half, and net run rate on its way up,” Doull commented during an interview with Cricbuzz.
Doull terms Australia as the dangerous side
Doull, having closely observed Australia’s performance, emphasized the potential threat the team poses once they gather momentum. He singled out Pat Cummins, both as a player and a captain, for his pivotal role in boosting the team’s confidence. Cummins played a significant part in Australia’s triumph against Sri Lanka.
“They are still a dangerous side, and that’s the thing with Australia. Once they get a little bit of belief, get a little bit of confidence, Cummins, I think he was a big player for them today as far as some of that belief is concerned,” added Doull.