World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh has urged Australia’s cricketers to not fear failure in their knockout final against Pakistan.
Waugh, who led Australia to its 1999 World Cup triumph, has been summoned to inspire the Australians ahead of Friday’s quarter-final in Adelaide.
Waugh addressed a team dinner on Tuesday night and attended training on Wednesday with a blunt message for Michael Clarke’s outfit: be brave.
“It’s an exciting time but at the same time I think the beauty of our team is we don’t fear losing,” opening batsman Aaron Finch told reporters on Wednesday.
“Yes, it’s knockout. But as soon as you’re worried about losing a game you tighten up and you don’t play with your natural flair.
“That is what a lot of our chats have been about and Steve was great with his chat last night.
“He just said there is a reason why there is pressure, because you’re expected to do well and expected to perform and there is only one reason for that: it’s because we have been successful and we’re good players.
“So we’re excited about that challenge and we’re not fazed about losing.
“You don’t worry about the outcome because as soon as you do that your (winning) percentage goes down.”
Finch said Australia’s current crop relished picking the brains of Waugh, also a member of Australia’s side which lost the 1996 World Cup to Sri Lanka.
“The guys just threw some questions at him… he has obviously captained a winning one and played in another (final) as well so there’s not too many better credentialled players to talk to.”
Australia were plotting to exploit holes in what Finch said would be an aggressive approach from Pakistan.
“They have got some unbelievably good talent,” he said.
“They are a team that we know if we put a lot of pressure on them, that you can slowly chip away and find yourself back in the game.
“So that is our plan. To just be as consistent as we can, try and keep grinding whether it’s with bat or ball.
“And we know that they play a very aggressive game so you do get chances.”
Australia expect Pakistan to try and attack the bowling of their allrounders Shane Watson and James Faulkner.
“No doubt that they are going to come hard at Watson and James Faulkner but these guys are skilled cricketers, they can deal with that,” Finch said.
“With our bowling, we have got firepower at the start, we have got firepower at the end and some really quality cricketers through the middle.
“We are going to have to play well, don’t get me wrong. But we’re still very confident.”
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