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| April 07, 2007 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 18, 1428 |
Nixon backing big guns to rise against old foes
ST JOHN’S, April 6: Paul Nixon believes England's big match players will come good in their make-or-break World Cup clash with reigning champions Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St Peter’s on Sunday.
England desperately need a win over their old rivals to keep alive hopes of reaching the semi-finals after Wednesday's nerve-jangling two-run defeat against Sri Lanka.
That they got so close after collapsing to 133 for six in pursuit of the 236 they needed was due to a stand of 87 between wicket-keeper Nixon, who made 42 off 44 balls, and novice all-rounder Ravi Bopara, bowled off the last ball from Dilhara Fernando for 52.
Nixon, 36, only made his One-day International debut during the tri-series in Australia where England, following their 5-0 Ashes thrashing, came back in the shorter form of the game to stun the hosts 2-0 in the finals in February.
But England's form at the World Cup has been mediocre. They've lost to the only two Test teams they've played – they were also beaten first time out by New Zealand – and wins over the likes of minnows Canada, Kenya and Ireland have been far from convincing.
Australia, by contrast, have enjoyed five wins from five matches in their bid for an unprecedented third successive World Cup.
“It's important that now we beat the old enemy,” the wicket-keeper said.
“It (the tri-series) gives us belief and you need belief that the Australians are beatable.”
The likes of England captain Michael Vaughan, who made nought against Sri Lanka, and aggressive all-rounder Andrew Flintoff have failed with the bat in the Caribbean and no-one in the side has made a century at this tournament.
But Nixon insisted the likes of Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen, who made 58 against the Lankans, were “due” a big score.
“We're due a hundred. We're due a big score. The cream always rises to the top and I'm sure that one of those guys will pull it out against Australia.”
Bopara, who made his debut in Australia where he played only once, showed a cool head under pressure and Nixon said of the 21-year-old: “He does have a lot of self-belief. He's proved himself a valuable selection. That was a major innings under pressure against a very good team.”—AFP
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