world cup five-fer: day 37

Hayden celebrates another World Cup ton.

By Tristan Holme

1. Shane Bond
Claims by Kiwi fans that he is the best fast bowler in the world were given credence today despite the fact Bond played no part in the match.

Whether that was due to Bond's quality or how rubbish his replacements were is for you to decide, but the fact that Stephen Fleming was under so much pressure after four overs that he felt there was no other option but to bowl a spinner says a lot.

Australia's top order have struggled against Bond in the past and his absence left an enormous void that neither Michael Mason nor Mark Gillespie could fill.

The first ten overs is usually a stress-free time for Fleming as he allows his opening bowlers to do their thing, but after ten overs today both Jeetan Patel and Daniel Vettori had been given a bowl in the hope that they would slow the run rate down.

2. Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson
It was another big day out for Hayden as he equalled the record for the most centuries scored in a World Cup.

Mark Waugh and Sourav Ganguly are the two players he has for company after scoring his third ton of this tournament, a feat made even more credible by the fact that the runs were scored against quality opposition in South Africa, the West Indies and New Zealand.

Meanwhile Watson made a successful comeback from injury, bludgeoning 65 from just 32 balls to put the game well and truly beyond the Kiwis. Of particular interest was his baseball-style technique, taking a little step back with his front foot before bringing it forward to increase his momentum on striking the ball - hardly textbook stuff, but certainly effective.

3. Australia's bowling
As in the Sri Lanka match, neutrals will have walked away from this game wondering what could have been had Australia's opponents fielded their first-choise bowling line-up.

But as in the Sri Lanka game, Ricky Ponting would be quick to remind them that the result would not have changed, given that Australia bowled New Zealand out for just 133.

At the age of 37 you'd expect Glenn McGrath to be smashed all over the place, but instead he's the tournament's leading wicket-taker. Meanwhile Brad Hogg has been the surprise of the tournament and Shaun Tait's pace has proven too much for many an opponent.

Put simply, Australia have bowled out every single side within 50 overs except for one, with Bangladesh spared by the fact that they played a 22-over match.

With the quality in their batting line-up, it's often easy to forget just how good Australia have been with the ball.

4. The power of the appeal
It worked for Pakistan against Ireland, when they appealed so vehemenently that Brian Jerling gave Andre Botha out caught when the ball had hit the opposite side of his pad to his bat.

It worked for Australia against Sri Lanka when Kumar Sangakkara was given out LBW for a fine piece of appealing by Glenn McGrath and his teammates.

And it worked again today as Ricky Ponting threw the ball into the air and the Australian side went nuts, convincing Asad Rauf that this confidence was a clear indication that Stephen Fleming must have edged the ball. No woody noise? Why bother with that when everyone seems so sure, eh?

These are just a few examples we've had in this World Cup that have shown that the most difficult part of umpiring is not allowing yourself to be overcome by the pressure of a big appeal. Umpires need to remember that when Andrew Symonds appeals for LBW from his favourite position at mid-wicket (which he does ALL the time), it's not necessarily because it must have been close. Some might even call it cheating.

People often bemoan Steve Bucknor for taking so long over his decisions, but there's little wonder that he gets all the best gigs. Rather than get all worked up in that moment of tension surrounding an appeal, Bucknor waits, lets everyone cool down, and then decides for himself whether HE thought that it was a worthy appeal.

I'll bet Fleming agrees with that after today...

5. Australia's victory charge
You could say that they've haven't been tested yet, given that Sri Lanka and New Zealand fielded weakened sides against Australia in their Super Eight encounters.

However the manner in which they have won their games (including the Group affair against a full-strength South Africa) has left little doubt that they're the best side at this World Cup by a country mile, and a third successive title looks there for the taking.

They have the top two run-scorers in the tournament in Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting and two of the top three wicket-takers in Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait.

But of course it's knockout time now and the chance to have a quick slip-up has passed, so the time for prevalence of justice goes out the window. It would be completely in the spirit of the game for an inconsistent South African side to win a crucial toss in St Lucia, have an absolute blinder and send the Aussies home.

The real test for Australia begins now - the time to hold their nerve under real pressure and show that they truly are the best cricket side on the planet. It would take a brave man to bet against them...