Nathan Bracken

Only an ambush will be able to stop Australia from winning the World Cup

Plays of the Day

A couple of Sri Lanka batting collapses turned a potentially cracking contest into a one-sided affair, as Australia wrapped up a comprehensive seven-wicket win

There has been plenty of attention on Australia's bowlers at the World Cup. Glenn McGrath has set a tournament record, Shaun Tait is hurling devastating inswinging yorkers, Brad Hogg has turned his form around dramatically, and Shane Watson and Andrew Sym

Nathan Bracken is getting ready for the World Cup knowing his mother-in-law will be keeping a keen eye on his progress

John Buchanan has admitted Australia's ego has been "battered" following a run of six defeats in seven matches

Australia's one-day crown will be in danger of slipping even further if their bowlers fail to contain the batsmen in the middle overs

Shaun Tait has claimed the final fast-bowling spot in Australia's 15-man World Cup squad while Brad Haddin, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has been picked as back-up for Adam Gilchrist

New South Wales will look to Mark Cameron and Doug Bollinger to bolster their fast-bowling stocks in the Pura Cup match against Victoria

Chris Simpson turned from villain to hero for Queensland, claiming four wickets in their win over New South Wales after earlier losing his wicket in one of the strangest run-out scenarios possible

Tasmania face a difficult task in the Ford Ranger Cup game in Hobart on Sunday

Damien Martyn hardly ever looks ruffled. Not when arching his back leg to dissect two gullies or when sipping a freshly ordered coffee. Not even when answering his thousandth question about the 1993-94 SCG Test

Many things make Australian teams such dominant outfits, but the knowledge they can win from virtually any position is one of the most devastating characteristics

When it came to the crunch, with a major trophy at stake, Australia's greater experience and quality came to the fore, with the bowlers showing immense resolve after being subjected to an early shellacking

Nathan Bracken has bowled himself back into contention for the first Ashes Test with a solid performance in the Champions Trophy

Given New Zealand's desire to step up whenever Ricky Ponting's men arrive, it was a meek surrender of the top order in a showpiece match as Australia reached their first Champions Trophy final

Glenn McGrath could be relegated to first change as Australia set their sights on the early dismissal of Stephen Fleming in their Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand

A potentially dewy surface will not force Brett Lee to rethink his bowling style for Sunday's Champions Trophy match against India

Nathan Bracken, the Australian fast bowler, has shrugged off accusations that he lacks a killer instinct on the field