"Australia to come out fighting"
Australia have their "backs against the wall" in the World Twenty20 - but insist they like it that way.
After their seven-wicket defeat against West Indies at The Oval, Australia must beat Sri Lanka in tomorrow night's Group C match at Trent Bridge.
Otherwise, their Ashes summer will begin with an ignominious early exit from what has quickly become established as a prestigious global tournament.
Australia, however, are renowned for their ability to overcome setbacks at the start of high-profile campaigns.
It was in this country in 1999 that they left themselves needing to win all their remaining matches first to survive and then triumph - as they did - in the World Cup.
In 2003, they found themselves without master leg-spinner Shane Warne when he failed a drugs test on the eve of their first match at the World Cup in South Africa.
They won there too in the end, and under Ricky Ponting have since added a third successive World Cup in 2007 - beating Sri Lanka, ironically, in the final in Bridgetown.
This time, mercurial all-rounder Andrew Symonds has had to leave Australia's squad because of a contravention of rules on alcohol consumption - and without him, Australia had no answer with either bat or ball to Windies captain Chris Gayle's big hitting.
David Hussey's middle-order runs were not enough to tax Gayle and Co. But he has no doubt Australia have all the talent they need to rescue their campaign tomorrow.
"It was highly disappointing," he said of the opening defeat.
"But we have got to move on and play Sri Lanka and win - and win well, we hope, to stay in the tournament.
"We have got our backs against the wall - and Australians love being in that situation."
Hussey recalls another slow start from his country at the inaugural staging of this tournament in South Africa two years ago - when they eventually reached the last four. "We know what we have to do," he added.
Relive the ICC World Twenty20 in Facebook
"In the last tournament, Australia lost to Zimbabwe in the first round and still ended up in the semi-finals - before losing to (champions) India.
"We hope we can replicate that, get into the final and go one better. We do have match-winners throughout the squad.
"Against Sri Lanka you will see a more disciplined Australia team. We will come out all guns blazing - you will see the Australian team coming out and playing very good, aggressive cricket."
Hussey acknowledges Symonds' absence, and the circumstances of his departure, as a problematic start - but reports Australia have put that debacle behind them. "We had a team meeting after that all happened and we put a line in the sand," he said.
"Ricky said 'no more discussion, it's done, prepare well and make sure you go out there to win the tournament'."
Before Australia's defeat against the Windies, England were even more notable losers - against minnows Holland at Lord's in the first match of their own tournament.
There were mixed feelings in the Australia camp at that unfortunate turn of events for their oldest enemy. "I was pretty happy," Hussey admitted.
Watch the highlights of the Australia-West Indies match
"To see (Holland fast bowler) Dirk Nannes - a team-mate of mine at Victoria - do well at Lord's was a great moment and actually gave us a lot of confidence.
"But it also put a bit of pressure on - because it proves that anything can happen in Twenty20."
Ponting concedes Australia have yet to convert their world-beating 50-over form to Twenty20. But he does not expect it to take long for that to click. "We're not playing well enough, obviously," he said.
"Sometimes the more you think about and over-complicate Twenty20 cricket the harder it can become.
Images from the Australia-West Indies match
"It all lies ahead of us, and we know exactly what we have to do."
As for the prospect of an early departure, the Australia captain does not appear to be relishing the short trip south which would result.
"We'll have two weeks in Leicester if we have an early exit here - and that won't be good for anybody," he added.
Ponting's opposite number Kumar Sangakkara is well aware his team have the chance to eliminate the opponents who beat them in the Caribbean's showpiece final two years ago.
But he warns it will not be easy.
"Knowing Australia, they will come back even harder," he predicted.
"We've just got to be prepared enough to believe we can beat them.
"Any team in a corner is going to come out fighting. Australia have proved that before.
"Every game we have is a must-win game - it is no different just because it is Australia."
Approaching Milestones
- Ricky Ponting (376) requires 24 runs to become the first batsman to aggregate 400 runs for Australia in Twenty20 Internationals.
- Nathan Bracken (19) needs one wicket to become the first bowler to complete 20 wickets for Australia in Twenty20 Internationals.
- Mahela Jayawardene (159) needs 41 runs to become the first batsman for Sri Lanka to complete 200 runs in the ICC World Twenty.
Head to Head
- Australia and Sri Lanka have contested against each other just once in Twenty20 Internationals.
- Australia had won the Cape Town encounter by 10 wickets against Sri Lanka on September 20, 2007.
Powered by Disqus
Join us on Facebook