According to cricket expert Ayaz Memon, the Netherlands team have nothing to lose and all to gain in this match, while it is juggernauts Australia have to live live up to their reputation
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00:00 Hi, I'm Ayaz Memon with the World Cup Update.
00:02 We've got Australia versus Netherlands.
00:04 It's an uphill task for Netherlands, without doubt.
00:07 They're one of the teams that qualified.
00:09 Australia have been five times former champions.
00:11 And in the last match against Pakistan,
00:13 they've come roaring back into form.
00:15 We saw what David Warner and Mitch Marsh did
00:18 to the hapless Pakistan bowler.
00:19 So it might look like a gross mismatch,
00:22 but the Dutch will draw succor and inspiration
00:25 from how Afghanistan has been playing.
00:28 Just the other night, Afghanistan beat Pakistan.
00:31 Before that, they had beaten England.
00:33 So they've been on a giant killing spree.
00:36 And Netherlands themselves have had a good match in the past.
00:39 They've beaten South Africa,
00:41 which is amongst the highest-flying teams.
00:42 So as I keep saying in sport, expect the unexpected.
00:47 Having said that, look, Australia,
00:49 they've got their mojo back.
00:51 They've got runs from David Warner and Mitch Marsh.
00:53 The top order was a bit of a problem for Australia.
00:57 They seem to have sorted that out.
00:59 Though they need more runs from Steve Smith and Labusheh.
01:02 And if he's still playing,
01:03 or Travis Sett is going to be included,
01:04 we don't know as yet.
01:05 But where Australia have benefited
01:08 is in the good form or return to form
01:11 of leg spinner Adam Zampa.
01:13 It just gives their attack that much more edge.
01:15 The fast bowlers, Stark, Cummins, Hazelwood,
01:19 have been steady.
01:21 But Zampa was looking a little out of sorts
01:23 in the first couple of matches.
01:25 He's come back strongly
01:26 and is looking a completely different team.
01:28 This Australian team, once it gets into its rhythm,
01:31 into its groove, it can become a juggernaut.
01:33 And that is something that not just the Dutch,
01:36 but other teams in this tournament
01:38 will be a little concerned about or worried about.
01:41 Where the Dutch are concerned,
01:42 look, I think the pressure on them is zero.
01:45 The pressure is entirely on Australia
01:47 to live up to their reputation.
01:48 So that helps not having pressure
01:50 because you have nothing to lose, everything to gain.
01:55 They've got some good performances,
01:57 beating South Africa was one of them.
02:01 They've got some very good players.
02:03 May not be the star players
02:04 that we've seen in some of the other teams,
02:06 but Bash Dhalid and Vikram Singh, Ackerman.
02:10 These are guys who are,
02:12 you know, they've got good skills.
02:15 They don't have that much depth of experience.
02:18 That could be their shortcoming.
02:20 But having said that, as I mentioned earlier,
02:23 that this is a World Cup where upsets have emerged.
02:27 We've already had three upsets.
02:30 Netherlands involved in one, Afghanistan involved in two.
02:33 So I'm not going to write off an upset
02:37 or something extraordinary,
02:39 just because on paper, Australia seemed that much better.
02:42 Australia, odds on favorites,
02:44 but as they say in Hindi,
02:46 "Kuch bhi ho sakta hai."
02:48 (upbeat music)
02:50 (upbeat music)
02:53 (upbeat music)