PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Defending champions Australia are hoping to peak just at the right time for the “huge” Group A match against Pakistan in Colombo on March 19.
Australia, who are unbeaten in 33 World Cup matches after a 60-run victory over Kenya on Sunday, haven’t been tested in the World Cup yet. They will top the group if they beat Canada in their next game and Pakistan at the Premadasa Stadium.
Mike Hussey, the veteran middle-order batsman, believes that the game against Pakistan will mark the real start of their fourth World Cup title in a row.
“Canada (on Wednesday) is going to be another good hit out for us but Pakistan is going to be a huge game down in Colombo and we should be starting to try and peak around that stage as well,” Hussey told Fox Sports in an interview on Monday.
“We can still get better in a lot of areas and if we keep getting better it should be a great game against Pakistan.
“It’s been a while since the boys have played. They have been training really well. It wasn’t so bad for me but for the boys, I think they’ve had enough netting.
“They’re pretty keen to get into the real stuff and we’ve got three games in seven days now so it should be good,” said Hussey, who hit a sparkling 54 against Kenya, after joining the Australian squad as a replacement for injured pacer Doug Bollinger.
Ricky Ponting said that the Aussies have received a boost after the return of Hussey, who was not included in the original squad because of a serious hamstring injury.
“Great to have Huss back around the squad. He fitted back in beautifully today and played the way we know he can play,” said the Aussie captain.
“That’s his class and experience shining through. (It was his) first game back in the national team for six or seven weeks and it looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.
“His timing right from the start was great. He didn’t appear to be hindered at all in the field.
“It’s great signs for us going ahead in this tournament,” he stressed.
Hussey said his left hamstring — injured during the ODI series against England — didn’t bother him in the match against Kenya. “I gave the hamstring a good workout and it should get stronger and stronger as the games progress,” he said.
