Cricket: Aussies 'lose the groove'

Daniel Vettori gets in some training for the Super Series in Melbourne. Picture / Reuters

Daniel Vettori reckons Australia have lost their groove and will be hell-bent on finding it during this month's Super Series against the Rest of the World.

Named in the World team for tonight's opening one-dayer at Melbourne, Vettori said he had noticed the swagger had virtually disappeared from some of the Australian players, as if the Ashes setback was still taking a toll.

"There's almost a different feel about them this time around, and I don't think it's just because I'm surrounded by the best players in the world," he said last night.

"The Ashes result has obviously caused some damage and, to me, it looks like they're feeling the pressure a lot more than usual.

"It doesn't hurt either that they haven't got Shane Warne and that they've got a couple of injuries. That just seems to make them appear a bit less intimidating and, to a degree, plays into our hands."

The left-arm spinner has been included alongside Sri Lankan star Muttiah Muralitharan in the team for game one, which Vettori said was expected to be played on a Docklands wicket that would provide turn and keep low.

His inclusion could prove a masterstroke for the World team as he played a key role in his last outing at Melbourne, taking 3-31 last year as New Zealand beat Australia in the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee one-dayer.

The World selectors have named a formidable combination for the first game, including a powder-keg opening combination, a deep and potent middle order, and spin and pace bowling options to die for.

Their plan seems to involve outright attack from Virender Sehwag and Kumar Sangakkara, knowing they have plenty of cover in Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Brian Lara and some huge guns later on in Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff.

Vettori said it was a true dream team: strength and balance throughout the side and bowling options to cover every eventuality, including a possible 30 overs of spin from himself, Murali and Shahid Afridi.

The World side will name their supersub before the toss, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar received the nod, if only because he is so used to walking off the park after bowling his quota.

And it hasn't gone unnoticed to Vettori that Australia's next one-day series is the Chappell-Hadlee contest next month - reason enough, he said, for wanting to chip away at their confidence.

"We were just discussing today that the one thing that brings us together is the fact that we've all been dominated by Australia over the past few years, whatever team we've been playing for.

"Our common ground is that we're all dead-keen on beating Australia. England's done it once and now everyone just wants to maintain the pressure and continue the momentum.

"Our job is to keep the Aussies down. The longer it can continue the better, and particularly as we come against them in a month or so.

"There's no shortage of motivation on the World team's behalf, I can tell you. We've all been in the same boat."

Australia's side for tonight's game has a slightly unfamiliar look about it after the axing of Matthew Hayden and the late call-up of Victorian leg-spinner Cameron White for injured all-rounder Brad Hogg.

But Vettori warned that any side containing bowlers of the calibre of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee and batsmen such as Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist would be up for the contest.

"They'll bounce back eventually," he said. "I just hope it's not on my watch."

Super Series

Telstra Dome, Melbourne, from 5pm, live on Sky Sport 1.

The teams:

* World XI: Shaun Pollock (South Africa, captain), Virender Sehwag (India), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Rahul Dravid (India), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Brian Lara (West Indies), Kevin Pietersen (England), Andrew Flintoff (England), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan).

* Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Bracken (12th man to be named).