cricket20 :: Hussey talks up Aussie cup prospects

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Hussey talks up Aussie cup prospects

Source - smh.com.au

Michael Hussey doesn't believe the absence of skipper Ricky Ponting and two others during a key stage in Australia's preparation for the Twenty20 World Championship will harm his side's cup prospects.

Pace bowler Stuart Clark has finally joined the squad in Johannesburg, arriving at about 4pm(midnight AEST) after remaining in Australia for a few extra days to help care for his ill son.

A decision on whether Ponting (family issue) and allrounder Shane Watson (hamstring injury) will take part in the tournament will likely be made on Friday, but both are already certain to miss Australia's two warm-up matches this weekend.

They will likely only have a few days at most on South African soil before Australia plays their first group game against Zimbabwe in Cape Town on Wednesday.

But Hussey believes the omission of the three players over the past week has done nothing to hamper preparations for the other 12 squad members.

"We're hoping those guys are going to get over as soon as possible and we're confident they will be here before the tournament starts, but I don't think (it's hurt our preparations)," Hussey said.

"I think every individual has to prepare how they prepare best and get out of training what they need to.

"The good thing about the Australian team is that we have very experienced cricketers who know their games very, very well.

"They know what they need to do to prepare well.

"And so at the moment it's a case of trying to get our skills up, because we haven't had much cricket, and trying to be ready for that first game.

"One of the strengths of the Australian team is we don't rely on that one or two key players, we've got matchwinners through the list, and that's a huge positive."

Australia play New Zealand at Willowmore Park, Benoni, in their first warm-up game on Saturday, before meeting tournament hosts South Africa at Centurion, Pretoria on Sunday.

The South African match will also include a trial of the bowl out procedure which will decide tied games at the tournament.