Defending champions Australia expect tough tests at the Indoor Cricket World Cup

Denzil Pinto 10:50 16/09/2017
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  • Having won every edition since its inception, defending Indoor Cricket World Cup champions Australia are wary of the pressure placed on them once again and expect this week’s competition to be the most “fiercely” contested tournament for a long time.

    Hosts UAE, England, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Singapore will all be bidding to do something that no other nation has done before and dethrone Australia as world champions in the men’s, women’s, men’s U-21 and women’s U-21 categories.

    The men’s side have triumphed on each occasion since 1995, while their female counterparts have dominated since 1998. Their U-21 sides also followed suit, winning every title since 2004.

    The 10th edition of the week-long competition gets underway at Dubai’s InSportz Club today and Australia men’s skipper Lyle Teske is bracing for a difficult seven days.

    “I think this will be one of the most fiercely World Cups for a long time,” he said, whose side open their campaign against Malaysia today. “All the oppositions are all very strong and we just have to focus on what we have to do. If we do that, then I think we can do very well.

    “If we have one edge, then it’s something that we have done it before. But when it comes to games, pressure is a funny thing.”

    For Jude Coleman, she has skippered the Australian female’s team since 1995 and has seen the format grow. “We find that every year it’s growing and we have set the standard and know they are trying to catch us,” said the six-time World Cup winner.

    “We have a very good structure at home and we are expecting an even tougher World Cup. There’s definitely on the pressure for a team who has never lost the World Cup final but we have prepared
    very well.”

    Regina Lilli’s New Zealand side lost to Australia in the women’s final but believes a squad mixed with youth and experienced, can go all the way this time.
    “The girls have worked hard to get here,” she said, who face South Africa today.

    “We have nothing to lose here and give it our best shot. Our team got a good mix of young players and there’s a lot of youngsters coming through and the future is looking bright for the women’s game.”

    For the UAE, the men’s side open against six-time runners-up New Zealand, who they beat in a warm-up on Monday, while the women’s side play England and Australia.

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