Doug Bollinger, the latest addition to the Fox Sports roster of cricket experts, says Australia can win the Cricket World Cup but need to watch out for Pakistan.
Doug Bollinger, who was sent home from the subcontinent with an ankle injury, says that while Australia still have two minnow match-ups against Kenya and Canada, it is the final group match against Pakistan that could be a real test.“ Absolutely we should be wary of Pakistan,” said Bollinger before Pakistan's loss to New Zealand.
“I think they’ve played really well. Shahid Afridi is leading really well and I think Pakistan have to be seen as one of the favourites to perform.”
Bollinger’s injury has come at a testing time, not only ruling him out of the World Cup, but threatening to keep him out of the line-up as NSW prepare for the Sheffield Shield final. In the meantime, Bollinger is looking on the bright side.
“I went and saw the surgeon and he just said have three weeks, a month off, and see how your foot goes. Surgery is the worst-case scenario.” Cricket Australia raised some eyebrows by replacing Bollinger with Mike Hussey, a batsman, but Bollinger is supportive of Hussey’s selection. “I think it’s great, I think he’d be very happy and hope he goes well. If he gets a game, I hope he goes well.
“He’s one of the senior players, he’s a great one-day player and he’s got a lot of experience as well, so he’ll be great to have around the squad.”
Regardless of the latest squad selections, Bollinger believes Australia have shown the form and grit to suggest a fourth World Cup is within reach. “I think (Australia) have been going really well. Obviously you can’t say much after they got washed out the other night but I think we’re bowling well and I think we’re batting well.
“It’s been a good start.
“I think they’ll be fine. They’ve got a couple of games coming up with Canada and Kenya that they can, hopefully, win really, really well, and the points don’t have to matter.”
Much more than an armchair expert, Bollinger will join Brendan Julian and colleagues on the Fox Sports commentary team for the games against Kenya, Canada and Pakistan. “It’s going to be great fun. I’ve never commentated on cricket before so it’s a new challenge.
