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.

After the journalists were done obsessing over "why don't you tour Pakistan", there were a few other questions as well.

One reminded Clarke of the fact that Australia had not won an ODI series this season, to which Clarke said that he was aware of it and that he wants his team to work harder.

Particularly the top 4.

He said that the batting needed to improve and wants his team to capitalize on the moments during which his team is ahead of the opposition.

When questioned about Symonds coming back into the team, Clarke talked about how important it was to have him in the absence of Ponting and Hussey.

Who would have done the drinking otherwise I wondered.

Someone asked Tim Nielsen how he motivated people like Symonds who is missing the IPL, where he makes a lot of money.

Nielsen's response was brilliant - "you make a few dollars playing for Australia as well".

The Aussies landed in Dubai early this morning, many of them for the first time ever.


Micheal Clarke, captaining Australia in a full series for the very first time addressed the media this evening.


Unlike Younis Khan's press conference, this one was held at the press conference room of the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium.


Like Younis, Clarke also praised Dubai Sports City and talked about how amazing the facilities were.


This is Clarke's first visit to the UAE and he said that he looked forward to playing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the first time.


He seemed relaxed and said that he was very proud to be leading this group of players in a full series for the first time.


There are a lot of firsts in there - first time in the UAE, first time in Dubai, first time in this stadium, first time captain, first time ...


The journalists however believe in first times and they sure as hell believe in second times and third times as well.


Younis Khan, the other day, was repeatedly asked about Shoaib Akhtar. Similarly Clarke was repeatedly asked, "Why Australia don't tour Pakistan".


Clarke dodged the question several times but the journalists kept coming back at him by phrasing it differently.


"What are your thoughts about touring Pakistan?"


"Don't you wish you were playing Pakistan IN Pakistan?"


"Do you think Australia will ever tour Pakistan?"


"How does it feel to be playing Pakistan in their home series in a foreign country?"


Hell, they even asked him what he thought about the World Cup being taken away from Pakistan!


Clarke handled it very well I thought, wihtout responding directly to any of those questions.


He said that he looked forward to playing against Pakistan. He praised the Pakistan cricket team and said that he thought they were a very strong side. He also mentioned that it was unfortunate that they had not played against them very often in the recent past. He talked about how the weather and the crowd here would make Pakistan feel at home. And he said that 2 years was a long way away and he hadn't even thought about the World Cup.


But the journalists still didn't back off.


They started directing the same questions to Tim Nielsen, the Aussie's coach, mentioning that he was in Pakistan with the A team in 2007 and what he thought about the situation.


Tim was a bit more direct than Clarke though.


He said that it was unfortunate that the series was not happening in Pakistan but this was the only way that Australia were going to play Pakistan and he's happy that Dubai offered to host the series.


He added that neutral venues like Dubai ensure that Pakistan continue to play international cricket as nobody would like to see Pakistan not play, hence it was the best option.


And he ended by saying that he loved it there in 2007.

Aptly pleasing the press!