India vs Australia: We are a better side, says Sourav Ganguly

Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday said Team India have the ability to beat Australia in the World Cup quarterfinals in Ahmedabad on Thursday, maintaining 'M.S. Dhoni's men are a better side'.

Sourav's team had lost to Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting's side in both the league match and the final in WC 2003.

On being asked if India can beat Australia in what is being called a revenge game, Sourav told Headlines Today Executive Editor Rahul Kanwal, "Yes, there is no doubt about it. India have a good chance of beating Australia. India is a better side."

Speaking on India's prime hope against the Aussies, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav said, "I don't mind him failing against the West Indies. Every time he has got out cheaply, he comes out all guns blazing (referring to his two centuries against England and South Africa in this WC) in next match. I hope to see him putting India in a good position against the Aussies."

Tendulkar had failed to score big in both the games in WC 2003, when India won all their matches, except against the Aussies.

India's only WC winning captain Kapil Dev also said, "They have the ability to do it (beat the Aussies)."

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Ricky Ponting confident Australia can make it 'difficult for anyone'

AHMEDABAD Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australia will look to take a leaf out of New Zealand's book and thump opponents Zimbabwe to make a statement in their World Cup opener later on Monday.

On Sunday, New Zealand bundled out Kenya for 69 and then returned to reach the target in eight overs and with 10 wickets in hand in a lop-sided Group A match.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said they would love to follow their neighbours' examples.

"I would like to go out and have a very similar result like New Zealand had. That's what we would like to do," Ponting told reporters ahead of their practice on Sunday.

"We will not take anybody lightly. If we can start the tournament by making a big statement in the event, it will be good for the team."

The Australian pace attack of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait should prove to be quite a handful for unfancied Zimbabwe, who will look to tie their opponents in a spinners' tangle.

But Ponting was not worried.

"Lots of teams have tried spin against us and tried different things against us in this part of the world and we have always managed to find a way to play good cricket here and win games," the Australia captain said.

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