England's Dalrymple ready for 'intense' Aussie clash by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 6th March 2007

 

England's Jamie Dalrymple reckons neither side will be giving an inch come Friday's World Cup warm-up match against Australia here Friday.

 

England, after being routed 5-0 in the Ashes series and making a lackustre start to the subsequent one-dayers, stunned hosts Australia by defeating the reigning world champions 3-0 in the tri-series limited overs final.

 

Dalrymple, who top-scored with 76 in England's opening 241 run warm-up thrashing of minnows Bermuda here Monday, said of his side's second and final practice match: "It will be a very intense game. They (Australia) will be trying to put one over on us after what happened 'Down Under' and we will be very keen to keep them where they are.

 

"A few of us have now experienced beating them for the first time and it's quite enjoyable," off-spinning all-rounder Dalrymple told reporters at England's team hotel on Tuesday.

 

"It was a big series in Australia because it showed us how we needed to play. Just as individuals need to know their own game so does the team need to know its own game."

 

And Dalrymple said the way in which England had skittled out Bermuda for 45 inside 23 overs showed their attitude was right. "A word I like in one-day cricket is 'ruthless' and it was good to stay on top of them."

 

Despite their ultimately crushing victory, England did become bogged down against Bermuda left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock, who took two for 32 in his 10 overs, and in the process revived concerns about their ability to keep the runs flowing against slow bowlers.

 

Dalrymple, who arrived at the crease with England 132 for five after Leverock had dimissed Paul Collingwood, said advice from Middlesex team-mate Ed Joyce, who'd faced Bermuda's star bowler when playing for Ireland and the state of the game determined his approach.

 

"He (Joyce) said he was their best bowler and it was not difficult to see that we didn't want to be doing anything stupid against him.

 

"Batting where I bat, everything is down to the situation. The situation on the board tells you what you have to do."

 

Looking ahead, Dalrymple said he expected spin to be an important factor at the World Cup. "Not just our bowling of spin, but the way we play it."

 

England's group matches are in St Lucia and Dalrymple, who played there last year for England A, said: "The pitches there were not as slow this one. They were new, good but fairly dead wickets.

 

"But you can talk as much as you like about this. It's the job of the early batsmen to assess the conditions and build from there."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)