A lot of people are talking about India and South Africa as the favorites for the ICC World Twenty20, while I have talked about Pakistan.

No one is talking up Australia's chances; I have a few reasons why not.

1. If they couldn't win it with Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, and Brad Hodge in 2007, it is highly unlikely that they will win it this time round.
   
   
2. They're all about the Ashes. That's where there thoughts are and will be throughout the tournament.
   
   
3. There's no Shaun Marsh.
   
   
4. Their coach thinks they don't play enough Twenty20 Internationals and that his players regard 20-20 cricket as exhibition cricket.
   
   Someone forgot to tell Tim Nielsen that his team has actually played more T20 internationals than any other team. (Refer to Table).
   
   If Nielsen thinks that Australia doesn't take 20-20 seriously and that they don't play enough of it, then they can't be taken seriously. Can they?
   
   
5. Andrew Symonds will make sure he tells every other squad member exactly what he thinks about them making it into the Ashes squad, and that will not be a pleasant sight.
   
   
6. Ponting thinks his players will be tested at the world twenty20 - not the typical confident stuff from the Aussies.
   
   
7. They're pooled in the Group of Death along with Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Any bets that the Aussies won't make it to the Super 8s?

For a change, Australia are not starting a World Cup as favorites.

A better change I believe. Even more, they're not starting it as the team that looks likely to win it.

Nevertheless, count them out at your own peril; I'm only speculating!

When the Australians arrived at the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, I was in the photographers area making sure the clickers were settling down alright.

The area dedicated for the photographers was right next to the Australian players' lounge.

While I was going through my motions, out walked Tim Nielsen to set up his laptop in the position that would be his for the rest of the day.

I clicked him and then walked up to say hello.

After exchanging a few pleasantries I enquired, "So Marsh and Watson opening today?"

Nielsen's response was, "Yeah, they are", to which I replied, "Thats great! Its good to see them back playing for Australia."

He said that it definitely was. We shook hands and I went back upstairs to the media room.

A couple of minutes before the start of the Australian innings, I walked back down to the photographers area to witness the first over from close-by.

As I looked left, I couldn't believe what I saw.

It was Marsh and Haddin walking out to open the innings!

With Watson padded up, sitting, and not going anywhere.

I was slightly disappointed not to see Marsh & Watson open, but I was very disappointed with Tim Nielsen.

Mr. Nielsen, if you're reading this I want to assure you that I am not a bookie, I do not gamble, and I am definitely not a spy for the Pakistan team.

I swear!

To prove that you can ask my readers and they'll tell you what a big fan I am of Marsh & Watson at the top of the order.

The press takes a walk in the corridors - from the media centre to the TV & Radio commentary boxes to the 3rd umpire room and onwards to the corporate boxes.

Billy Bowden enters the 3rd umpire's room.

I requested Billy for a pic and he was out with his best pose in a second! He's umpiring the 1st ODI on Wednesday.

The square being worked on by the groundsmen. They're calling it a batting paradise.

The Security waits, outside the players' room, for the Australians to arrive.

Micheal Clarke smiles as Tim Nielsen mentions that Symonds makes a few dollars playing for Australia as well.

The ICC's Anti Corruption & Security Unit's head, Retd. Col. Nur Khan, gets a brief from the security men on the arrangements.

The Australians arrive at the stadium.

Clarke had already finished his press meet and was waiting in the players' lounge. Shane Watson (in flip-flops), was in front of the line along with this man whom I did not recognize.

I managed a word with Watson, Symonds, and Marsh and basically said the same thing to all of them - Welcome back to the Australian team. I was met with smiles and thank yous with Symonds having the biggest smile of all.

Arrogant Aussies? What arrogance? Not even a hint of it.

Stuart Clark is HUGE!

And Bracken is taller than I imagined.

There were a few guys I did not recognize - probably Callum Ferguson and Doug Bollinger.

As Symonds walked into the ground, someone threw a ball at him. I'm not sure who it was.

Micheal Clarke looked like a lonely figure sitting on the steps outside the players' lounge. That's Shaun Marsh standing right behind him. You can also see Symonds going back into the lounge.

The players waited for the lights to come on, did a few light excercises and some fielding drills. They have a full fledged practice session tonight.

When I started batting I used to hold my bat high trying to emulate Amir Sohail. The only thing was that my bat used to be facing somewhere around 3rd slip, which my coach corrected so that it points towards the wicket keeper.

Face down ofcourse.

Phil Hughes' bat not only points towards first slip, the face of his bat points towards the point-cover region.

No wonder his cut shot is so fierce.

His stance and the way he holds hit bat would embarass Ijaz Ahmed!

After the shit he played on the 4th ball of his test career, I thought he would have to work really hard to make it at test level.

Three innings later, with scores of 75, 115, and 136*, he has out done the likes of Sir Don Bradman and George Headley.

In a matter of a few innings, Hughes has ensured that Australia don't even think about a certain Matthew Hayden.

Moreover, all his knocks have come in pressure situations and have been match winning ones. Not meaningless scores notched up in high scoring draws.

Hughes has been the batting mainstay for Australia in this series, which has allowed Johnson, Hilfenhaus, and Siddle to attack the South Africans.

All this at 20!

After that 4th ball, I did not think he would make it. He has and how!

If he manages to avoid the axe, something Ponting and Clarke could not early in their careers, then Hughes has a good decade and half of a career opening the innings for Australia.

His start against the best pace attack in the world indicates that bowlers around the world are in for some tough times ahead.

With the way Hughes bats, it seems the bowlers always have a chance against him.

But somehow he survives. I don't know how he's done it but he has.

Australia have unearthed one hell of a batsman!

His attacking strokeplay suggests that he could be great for ODIs as well.

Imagine a top order consisting of Hughes, Marsh, and Warner.

Those 3 can serve Australia for a good ten plus years.

Doesn't look like Australia's time is up. They're going to retain their number 1 ranking in tests, and in the ODIs too, and it looks like they'll remain there for some time to come.

A century partnership in only their 2nd outing together, Marsh & Warner showed glimpses of what to expect going forward.

No one would have expected that Australia would be starting their innings off with such a young pair.

I believe its the youngest pair they've had in a long long time.

Quite a pair its going to turn out to be.

Warner the aggressor, Marsh the accumulator.

Thats what they showed earlier today.

I reckon this is one partnership that will go down in the books and be mentioned in the same breath as Haynes & Greenidge, Sachin & Saurav, Sehwag & Gambhir, and for some Hayden & Gilchrist.

I know its too early for they are only in their 2nd game together.

What they showed today, definitely has the makings of one of the greatest pairs.

Atleast on the ODI level.

I'm not sure why Australia opened with Micheal Hussey in the 1st ODI but now with Clarke gone, Hussey will go back to doing what he does best - finishing.

But whose going to open then?

Hopes? Haddin?

Nope!

I'm sure everyone out there is already aware of who has been called in to replace Micheal Clarke and join Shaun Marsh at the top of the order.

Are you excited?

I am.

More than ever I think.

The prospect of watching these two open the innings is just too much.

It could be the start of something special.

Very special.

A great pair in the making?

Possibly.

Fireworks?

Definitely!

Lick your lips gentelmen, and the ladies, for Australia tomorrow opens with...

Shaun Marsh and David Warner.

Did you read that?

Shaun Marsh and David Warner.

Reckon the South Africans must be having a sleepless night.

For the viewers - spend your night licking your lips because tomorrow your jaw might not close for as long as these two bat.

Marsh & Warner.

Sounds like the new law firm in town.

Moses, you were right.

Not the test team.

Atleast not till they find someone with even quarter of the magic that Warne had and an opening pair to match the Hayden & Langer of old.

Its their ODI team that excites me.

Shaun Marsh is one of the reasons but there are more.

They have a series coming up against South Africa and recently announced their squad.

And unlike their test cricketers, their ODI cricketers seem to have a buzz around them.

In Shaun Marsh at the top of the order they have one of the most exciting batsmen in world cricket today.

With Hayden's ODI career coming to a halt and Shane Watson out with yet another injury, I'm not sure who will partner Marsh.

Marsh and Watson, in my view, formed a great combination at the top and they could be the openers to look out for in the future if Watson can get some more cow blood into his body.

Looking at Australia's squad, James Hopes seems like the most likely option.

Marsh & Hopes did the job in the 1st ODI against Bangladesh in August last year.

And they did so during the IPL as well for the Kings XI.

We know what another IPL opening pair has done last year - that too in all forms of the game.

Brad Haddin has done the job as well in the past, not so successfully though.

However, with the form he is in these days, it might be the perfect opportunity to send him at the top of the innings with Marsh.

Nevertheless, whether its Marsh & Hopes or Marsh & Haddin, fireworks will be the order of the day.

Good attacking cricket will be on view.

And for some reason, I feel it will be better than watching the Australian test team of late.

These guys are not the only ones that get me excited.

Cameron White is another.

I have a thing for leggies. But more than that its White's power hitting that makes him what he is.

I'm glad the Aussie selectors have ignored their blunder of playing him as a leg spinner in the tests against India and have stuck with him for the ODIs.

The usual suspects - Ponting, Clarke, and Hussey - are there, but they're hardly exciting.

Actually Hussey is in ODIs. Ignore his test style. In ODIs he can be brutal and has been.

And then there's another Hussey.

David Hussey.

Now thats a player you don't want to miss.

He can hit and he can hit hard and far.

We saw glimpses of what he can do in the IPL and then in the West Indies.

But I'm sure there's more to come from him.

He's been in smashing form in the ongoing 20-20 Big Bash.

How can anyone not be excited about him.

So while Australia's test batsmen seem lost in time and don't seem all that threatening anymore, the ODI batting line up seems to be a fine one.

Marsh, Hopes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Hussey, White, Haddin

Read that again.

Marsh, Hopes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Hussey, White, Haddin

Thats why the Australian ODI team excites me.

Steyn & Co. - watch out!

Students of the Allen Standord University for Cricket Bloggers were given an assignment last night, which was to report on the 1st ODI between Australia and the West Indies from an IPL perspective.

Micheal Clarke captained Australia to a 211 run mauling in a practice match against the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI.

There was no Hayden and Gilchrist at the top. Instead it was the IPL stars - Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson.

Brothers Micheal Hussey and David Hussey were part of the middle order. There was no Ricky Ponting.

Allrounders Cameron White and James Hopes, followed by wicket keeper Luke Ronchi made up the late order.

The pace attack was made up of Bracken, Johnson, and Clark.

With Symonds playing instead of either White or Hopes, and Lee instead of Clark, this could very well be the Aussie ODI side that we get accustomed to seeing over the next few years.

Yes I do believe that Ricky Ponting will be replaced as ODI captain sooner rather than later and that Hayden will hang up his boots sooner rather than later.

Ronchi / Haddin is a 50-50 though.

Australia's future then?

When India announced its squad for the tri series in Bangladesh, it included Yusuf Pathan and Pragyan Ojha.

Shane Watson was the man of the series in the 1st season of the Indian Premier League. Emerging Media paid $125,000 for his services.

Shaun Marsh won the Orange Cap for being the leading run scorer. Priety Zinta and her partners paid $30,000 for his services.

Sohail Tanvir won the Purple Cap for being the leading wicket taker. Emerging Media paid $100,000 for his services.

The combined investment in these 3 stars - $255,000 - is a half of what Anil Kumble was paid, a third of what Jacques Kallis was paid, and less than a fourth of what each one of the icons earned.

Watson, Marsh, and Tanvir will be the most sought after players when the trading floor opens next year.

While no one would want the likes of Jacques Kallis.

Franchises will bid big amounts for the 3 top performers.

While RCB will look to sell Kallis for as low as possible.

So what will Emerging Media and Priety Zinta do when they are faced with attractive offers for trading their star players?

And what will RCB do when no one is willing to buy Kallis?

If EM and Priety decide to keep Watson, Marsh, and Tanvir and not trade them (which should be the case given their performances) then will they give the 3 a pay hike?

They don't have to since all 3 are bound by 3-year contracts, but their performances demand a pay hike. Especially if other franchises are willing to dish out huge amounts for them.

What about a non performer like Kallis? RCB wouldn't want him, but then no one else would either. He will probably be benched but due to the 3-year contract he will have to be paid $900,000 whether RCB play him or not.

Major Dilemma that is.

What will the IPL franchise traders do? What will the franchise owners do?

Its still 9 months or so till the IPL trading floor opens, but what will go down already looks intriguing.

I wanted to do a "Return on Investment" type analysis on the IPL players on completion of the league but Cricinfo has already done that. They have played the Numbers Game and listed their Most Valuable Players based on their prices. They have done the same for the least valuable players.

No point in repeating the excercise.

Instead I decided to build an IPL XI with the best performers of the league.

Building a team is alway a tough excercise. The 8 franchises went through it about 3 months ago - some worked, some didn't.

So how do I pick a Best XI from the top performers?

Do I just look at the stats and pick the top 6 batsmen, the top wicket keeper, and top 4 bowlers?

Or do I look for the best player for each position?

Rajasthan Royals proved that the latter option is the best method.

If I went ahead and picked the top 6 batsmen, I'll end up with 5 openers - so definitely not the ideal selection.

Plus I have to ensure that I include only 4 non-Indians in the XI.

And I also need 1 U19 player in the side.

This is going to be tougher than I thought. But I've decided to go the Royals' way of selecting the best players for each position.

The 4 non-Indians

This was the easiest way to start I thought. Picking the top 4 foreign performers, fitting them into their positions, and then building the team around them.

This ended up being a no brainer with the leading batsman, leading bowler, and leading allrounder easily walking into any IPL XI.

Shaun Marsh comes in as an opener, Sohail Tanvir as the opening bowler, and Shane Watson, the man of the tournament, at number 4.

The 4th choice was also an easy one.

How can one ignore Shane Warne. He captained the Royals to the championship, he was the 2nd highest wicket taker, he was the best captain on the show, and he even won 2 matches with the bat.

Shane Warne comes in as the captain of the team. There could be no one else really.

Now I need to pick an opening partner for Marsh, a middle order to bat around Watson, a couple of allrounders, a wicket keeper, and 2 bowling options. All Indian.

The Openers
Gautam Gambhir wore the orange cap for majority of the time and lost it to Marsh only near the closing stages of the IPL. The next best Indian opener was Gambhir's partner Sehwag, but Gambhir showed far more consistency. He is the ideal choice to partner Marsh at the top.

Can't argue against having the top 2 run scorers at the top of the order now.

The Openers: Marsh & Gambhir.

The Middle Order

Shane Watson has fitted into the number 4 slot so I need to select a number 3 and a number 5 to bat around him.

I thought about Sehwag at 3 but then I remembered I had to pick the best one for the position.

Suresh Raina has done well for the Super Kings, while Rohit Sharma's reputation was strongly enhanced following his performance for the Chargers. Shikhar Dawan was another top performer at the number 3 slot.

I go for Raina for his level headed batting in the final stages of the tournament - the boy showed he can bat under pressure.

Not many did better than Yusuf Pathan at number 5. The Man of the Final was a unanimous choice for this slot. (Well as unanimous as it can be with only me doing the selection).

The Middle Order (numbers 3, 4, and 5): Raina, Watson & Y. Pathan.

The Allrounders
Numbers 6 and 7 are tricky ones.

Do I pick a wicketkeeper and a bowling allrounder, or do I pick 2 allrounders? Do I strengthen the batting with a batting allrounder or do I pick a pure batsman considering Watson provides the pure allrounder option?

I decided that I need a wicketkeeper here along with an allounder. Not a bowling allrounder though.

The top Indian wicketkeeper in terms of runs was MS Dhoni. In terms of dismissals though he was well behind Takawale, Saha, Rawat, and Karthik.

But who picks wicketkeepers purely for there keeping skills these days?

I go for Dhoni. He brings what the cricket experts like to call the X-Factor to the team.

The allrounders spot is a difficult one. There aren't many Indian allrounders who did well. There aren't many Indian allrounders, period.

I couldn't think of even 1 name so I decided to select my favorite U19 player from the tournament - Ravindra Jadeja.

The boy is a livewire in the field, he played a couple of match winning knocks, and is an able left arm spinner, even though he wasn't used as much by Warne. He was one of the stars of India's succesful U19 World Cup, and will be a more than handy man to have at number 7.

The Keeper and Allrounder (Numbers 6 and 7): MS Dhoni & Jadeja.

The Bowlers
Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir are already there, so I need to fit in 2 more bowlers.

Shaun Marsh, son of the Aussie opener Goeff Marsh, has just been signed up by Priety Zinta's Mohali franchise for the IPL.

Its been quite a week for the young Aussie - after being named in the ODI squad for the Windies tour, earlier today he received his first contract from Cricket Australia.

Whats interesting is that Shaun Marsh joins Luke Pomersbach in the Mohali team - the 2 Western Australians were suspended earlier this season for a late night drinking binge by WA. One can expect some late nights then in and around Punjab once the IPL kicks off.

Marsh and Pomersbach will have to be wary though as Mohali is coached by Western Australia coach Tom Moody who has Trevor Penney as his assistant, also his assistant at WA.

Dominic Thornely, another successful Australian domestic cricketer, was also lapped up today by the Mumbai Indians, who had earlier signed on the Western Australian wicket keeper Luke Ronchi.

Glenn McGrath is one of the first international cricketers to arrive in India for the IPL and has already started training with the Delhi Daredevils. Delhi's coach, the Victorian Greg Shipperd, has also arrived in India and held the team's first training session yesterday.

Aussies have definitely taken the IPL by storm.

• Shane Warne is the only non-Indian captain the IPL has.
  
• 4 of the 8 IPL coaches are Australian - John Buchanan, Tom Moody, Greg Shipperd, and Shane Warne.
  
• Australia is the only country from where the largest pool of domestic cricketers have signed on with the IPL - those mentioned above along with the Victorians David Hussey and Cameron White. There are a couple of others that I'm forgetting right now.

Despite such an Aussie dominance in the IPL, Uncle J Rod refuses to believe that it will be a success. Forget Aussie dominance Uncle J, they've got Victorians here as well.


The IPL kicks off in 9 days.

The teams are ready; they've all got their names, their captains, their coaches, their players, their multi colored uniforms; the players have started arriving, training sessions have started, the schedule is in place, and arragements for the opening ceremony are being finalised !!

It sure will be quite an extravaganza !!!