Melbourne, March 30: Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath has declared that a third successive World Cup is in the bag for them if they maintain their current form.
McGrath`s bold call comes after crushing wins in the first four matches the reigning world champions have played in the tournament so far.
"If we go out and play the way we have, I can`t really see any team getting close to us. If we keep focusing on that and keep trying to improve ourselves, I think that`s the way it will be. With the Australian team we have been so successful for such a long time, we know how to win, we know what we have to do," The Age quoted McGrath as saying ahead of Saturday`s Super Eights match against Bangladesh.
Australia, winners in 1999 and 2003 as well as 1987, have won their last 22 World Cup matches and fast bowler McGrath believes big predictions put added pressure on the team which assists them to play the game more freely.
"I don`t say anything I don`t believe. But I`m happy to I guess set the team or myself up. I think we play better when the pressure is on us. Even Australia`s five-game losing streak coming into the World Cup wasn`t enough to dent the confidence. I think it was probably the perfect build-up for us," McGrath said.
"We had a few bad games but it gave us the chance to reassess things. I do feel we are improving every game but I still think we`ve got a bit of a way to go yet which is something pretty amazing. There were no thoughts of any negativity from the Australian team at all and when we came over here I think we`ve shown what sort of team we are (with four big wins)," he added.
Bureau Report
