Daijiworld Media Network

Colombo, Sep 19: Welcome to day 2 of the tournament. World's number 9 T20 team (Australia) take on number 10 (Ireland). Going by the rankings, one should expect a close contest, but Australia go in as clear favourites. But don't write Irelend off so soon. They're surely capable of stunning a side or two in this tournament. If you want proof, ask England or Pakistan...

Pitch report: 'Nice and hard with a little bit of shine. Looks like a really good pitch with plenty of bounce and carry. Both the batsmen and the bowlers should enjoy it' says Ian Chappell.

Ireland have won the toss and elected to bat

Porterfield: 'We've got some dangerous players in the line up and the guys are ready. We're the underdogs and we're fine with it'

Bailey: 'The wicket shouldn't change much. We're going with an all-out pace attack, Cummins is in. Hoggy is 41 but his energy is phenominal. I'm enjoying captaincy, looking forward to the tournament.'

Teams:

Ireland (Playing XI): William Porterfield(c), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien, Gary Wilson(w), Kevin O'Brien, Trent Johnston, George Dockrell, Nigel Jones, Boyd Rankin, Alex Cusack

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, George Bailey(c), Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Christian, Matthew Wade(w), Brad Hogg, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc

Match Preview :

Australia have a lot to prove to themselves and the world for their record in the shortest format of the game and in the previous editions of the World T20 has been anything but impressive.

They start their 2012 campaign with a tricky match against giant-killers Ireland who have enough fire power to cause a major upset.

Australia

There is a reason why Australia look forward to the T20 World Cup like few other teams. That is the only Trophy which is absent from their rather huge cabinet. One look at their record in the previous editions and a person just introduced to cricket, would label them as the minnows of this format. They made the semi-finals in the inaugural World Cup and were runners-up in the previous one, but based on the benchmarks they themselves set at ICC events, it still ranks as a dismal show.

The other worrying factor is that none of the excuses given for the non-performance in the longer formats i.e. Team in transition, retirement of legends, etc would not work. In the inaugural T20 World Cup, Australia had the likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee amongst their ranks and still could not emerge victors. Of late, post the franchise based Big Bash League, the selectors have taken some quirky decisions with an eye on the podium finish at the 2012 World Cup.

The most discussed and debated amongst them has been the appointment of Tasmanian George Bailey as skipper. A middle order batsman with a fantastic List A record, Bailey is neither the dasher like a David Warner, neither does he possess the finesse of Michael Hussey. But giving the selectors their due, Bailey is an astute leader and in the seven T20Is that he has led his nation, has shown an assuredness in the field, especially during tense moments. All of those 7 games came in 2012 and Australia's win-loss ratio stands at 3-4, including the tied game in Dubai this month. Majority of the members of the World Cup squad have played those 7 games which gives us a good picture.

Ireland

For a side that comes in with limited expectations and with the associate tag, Ireland more often than not does very well to stand up and make people take notice of their cricket. Ireland might not be as good as an England or a South Africa when it comes to the quality of cricket they play, but on most occasions its the amount of heart they put in to each game that pulls them through. The Irish are perhaps second to the men from West Indies when it comes to displaying how much they enjoy the game.

A jig after a taking a wicket has become a common sight as far as Irish cricket goes. The other thing that has become common to Irish cricket is punching above their weight. Their first moment of glory came in the 2007 World Cup, when they knocked Pakistan out in the group stages. Ireland then followed it up by going to the super eight stage in the 2009 T20I Cup, however, the biggest impact they made was when they beat their neighbours England by chasing a target of 328. That game finally led to people looking at Ireland as more than just an associate nation, and the Irish will be keen to reinforce that change of thought in Sri Lanka.

Players to watch

Michael Hussey has been in prime form and is the lynchpin of the Australian batting line-up. With the likes of Ponting and Clarke no longer a part of the Australian T20 set-up, the responsibility to carry the team through will rest on Hussey's shoulders and we all know what feats he is capable of!

Kevin O'Brien needs no introduction. His knock against England in the World Cup in 2011 was one of the best ODI innings of all time. He is capable of a lot more.

Stats and Milestones

David Warner has 978 runs in T20Is - the highest by an Australian and the 5th highest overall.

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