Sharp fielding will be key in Pakistan quarter-final: Greg Blewett
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ADELAIDE: Australia are stepping back in time in an effort to maximise their chances of a fifth World Cup title by dusting off old videos of fielding master classes.
The team's fielding coach, Greg Blewett, believes sharpness in the field will be key in Friday's quarter-final against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval.
“Over the last month or so we've shown a fair bit of footage of some really good Australian fielders who have gone before these guys,” Blewett said.
“It's about them hopefully starting to replicate a bit of what guys like Andrew Symonds, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden (achieved).
“Trying to get them to force a bit of their own legacy. The other thing is trying to create a bit of competition amongst the guys at training.”
Improving Australia's performance in the field has been high on the agenda since coach Darren Lehmann labelled it “shoddy at best” after a handful of chances went down in the Boxing Day Test against India.
Lehmann reckoned that the World Cup would probably be won by the best fielding side.
“The three best fielding sides are South Africa, New Zealand and us,” said Blewett, who played 46 Tests and 32 ODIs in his career.
“We're all pretty close. Everyone knows how important fielding is, particularly when it comes to the bigger games.”
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Comments (23) Closed
Mar 16, 2015 12:45pm
come the day quarter final of Aussies vs Pakistan and so called air balloon of Pakistan momentum will be poked...phoooos
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Mar 16, 2015 12:49pm
An alien thing for the Pakistani team unfortunately.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:14pm
@Acp Rathod . Dear friend Rathod! Don't commit the mistake of underestimating anyone . Even the so called light weight Bangladesh ambushed India in WC at West Indies. Against India in WC-1983 Finals W.I. did the same mistake. Result was disastrous. In similar situation only Pakistan won WC in Australia. Instead of giving provoking messages enjoy the great game of uncertainties called "Cricket" - S. Srinivasaraghavan Mysore India
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Mar 16, 2015 01:31pm
Let the Best Man Win
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Mar 16, 2015 01:45pm
Some of the favourits are going to be knocked out of the tournament. My perdiction makes it to be SA and NZ, both bowing out in the quarters.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:08pm
Yes ! agree...the team with best fielding will win the day...period. And the Australians & those good teams know, it is fielding which will always compensate for the any weakness in batting or bowling.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:38pm
Apart from sharp Australian fielding, their pace attack --Johnson, Starc and Cummins -- could be a different ball game for the Pak openers on the quick Adelaide track!
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Mar 16, 2015 02:39pm
Ok let alone all the calculations, assumptions, tectics, wagera wagera aside.... Pakistan wins by Qismat, Sitaron ki chaal, and last but not the least, 92' me bhi aesa hee tha sab kuchh so this time also everything else is same and Pakistan's WC win will be same.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:41pm
Indian fielding is also one of the best -- Kohli, Rohit, Raina, Rehane, Dhavan and Jadeja -- are quick in the circle and some of the best catchers...
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Mar 16, 2015 03:24pm
Pakistan is best in fielding. They would not disappoint us.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:45pm
@Acp Rathod My friend, everyone was looking for you yesterday (after Pak/Ire match) and you went missing. You were claiming Pak will be out of WC .
So please, be realistic and be "sensible".
Yes, Australia is a very good team. In the last 7 ODIs played between Pak and Aus, Aus have won 5 and Pak 2. And last 7 ODIs (result excl abandoned) between India and Aus, Ind have won 3 and Australia 4.
So it does NOT mean Australia will always win. Whoever plays better on given day would be the winner - as simple!
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Mar 16, 2015 03:47pm
@Shahid I have the same feeling. But India, Australia and Pakistan stand better chance. SAF and NZ seems to be kicked out.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:11pm
@ jay hope so they would not disappoint anyone . see u in finals
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Mar 16, 2015 04:12pm
Pakistani cricketers will try to lose this match against Australia ... bcoz even if they beat Aus, then they will meet India in semis....which pakistani players dont want... they don't want to return home with 7-0 result!
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Mar 16, 2015 04:25pm
@Vish1 , quick Adelaide track? Are you sure because the two matches Pakistan have played there, there isn't much life in pitch. I don't know if Australia can spice up that pitch in 3,4 days otherwise Adelaide or Sydney is the best pitch to compete against Australia for any subcontinent side.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:54pm
@Vish1, Adelaide track is not quick it helps spinners unlike other Australian grounds.
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Mar 16, 2015 05:00pm
I don't know why Pak fielders drop LOLLYPOP catches..........
Umar Akmal is good fielder when he plays as non-wicketkeeper.........................
Obiviously, SHAHID AFRIDI must perform EXTRAORDINARY vs KANGAROOS both by ball, bat & fielding................
I'm surprising that why Pak fielders not hold the catches properly on his bowling............
Please atleast don't drop the catches of the likes of WARNER, MAXWELL, SMITH, FAULKNER, FINCH, CLARKE & WATSON to win it for PAKISTAN.
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Mar 16, 2015 05:31pm
@Waseem Sarwar Australian bowler Pat Cummins (who is capable of generating speeds of up to 150km/h) rates Adelaide Oval as ideal for Australia's express-pace bowling attack. So, there is a logic!
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Mar 16, 2015 05:32pm
@waqas Australian quickie Pat Cummins (who is capable of generating speeds of up to 150km/h) rates Adelaide Oval as ideal for Australia's express-pace bowling attack. So, there is some logic why I expressed my opinion!
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Mar 16, 2015 11:01pm
@Acp Rathod so will india's so called momentum. They will go home as the losers that they are
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Mar 17, 2015 08:18am
@Vish1 for your info, the Adelaide pitch is the slowest of all Australian pitches, and one takes some spin
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Mar 17, 2015 08:20am
@Viking Star Both Pakitan and Australia cannot move o the Semis. one has to bow out in the Quarters as all gammes are knock out
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Mar 17, 2015 08:59am
Coach Waqar Younis -- R U reading this ; ) Only for our guys, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram are the go to players who were world class cricketers ... so observe, learn and know thy enemy ... then replicate the best of the best and IA you will succeed!
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