Aussies eager to avoid Cup history repeating

More than a decade has passed since Pakistan last beat Australia in Australia, and opening batsman Aaron Finch sees no reason why that trend won't continue when the two sides meet in Adelaide on Friday.

Finch admitted to "excitement and a few nerves" ahead of the quarter-final which, for seven members of the likely starting XI, will be the first time they have faced the pressure and intensity of a sudden-death World Cup contest.

Captain Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson are the four surviving members from Australia's last World Cup eliminator – a quarter-final defeat at the hands of eventual champions India in 2011.

As co-hosts and tournament favourites, the expectation surrounding this Australian team is greater than that 2011 side had to deal with on the subcontinent, when Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee were the two remaining pillars of the legendary line-ups that had reigned supreme throughout the two tournaments prior, and the defending champions were seen as a superpower very much on the slide. 

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Ponting is caught behind by Kamran Akmal // Getty Images

Four years on, and the wheel has again turned.

The Australians have beaten Pakistan the past seven times they've faced them on home soil, dating back to January 2005, and also prevailed three-nil in last October's ODI series in the UAE.

They're highly fancied to overcome the Pakistanis who, typically, are seen as a gifted yet inconsistent group and Finch insists that the patience game can win out.

"When you come up against Pakistan they've got some unbelievably talented players and they're bowling's been a real strength of theirs this tournament," the Victorian said today.

"We know if you put a lot of pressure on them you can slowly chip away and find yourself back in the game.

"That's our plan, to be as consistent as we can, try to grind and keep grinding whether with bat or ball, and we know that they play a very aggressive game, so you do get chances and if you hold onto them in the field it goes a long way to winning the game."

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Finch celebrates his century against England // Getty Images

Finch himself has struggled to find the rhythm that saw him begin the tournament with a century against England on February 14.

Dropped on zero in the tournament opener before making a ton, he's since made scores of 14, 4, 24, and 20. The numbers don't get any more flattering when it comes to Friday's venue and opposition; in two ODI innings in Adelaide, he's made scores of 4 and 7, while against Pakistan, he has scored 32 runs in three ODI innings with a top score of 18.

"I felt like I've been playing nicely in the nets," Finch said. "It hasn't translated into runs over the past couple of games but I'm not too bothered about it.

"When you're playing well in the nets you go into the game confident.

"Getting the hundred in the first game, against England, gives you confidence going into a big game. There was a huge build-up to that first clash.

"I played a poor shot in New Zealand and have been a little bit scratchy in other innings … I'm still very confident going into Friday."

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Finch is bowled in the New Zealand match // Getty Images

Finch was diplomatic when discussing the respective prospects of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who will again vie for the third fast-bowling spot.

Cummins went for 42 in taking three wickets from his seven overs against Scotland last Saturday, and stated earlier this week that he liked the pace and bounce of the Adelaide Oval pitch.

And while Hazlewood began the tournament as the preferred option to complement the flat-out aggression and pace of Mitchell Starc and Johnson, his younger, more explosive counterpart got the nod in Australia's most recent outing.

"They've both been excellent," Finch said of the NSW fast-bowling pair. "It's always tough facing our quicks in the nets. They're bowling quick, they're being aggressive. We train as we play.

"All of them are tough work, and Josh, having missed the past couple, has been disappointed but he's been training hard and bowling well – and so has Pat. I don't think you can ask much more of two guys who are competing probably for that third quick's spot."

The opening batsman also endorsed the fitness and form of veteran pair Clarke and Watson.

"Michael batted for a long time in the nets today, which really frustrates Steve Smith because he loves to bat for ages and it's great to see 'Smudge' standing at the back having to bide his time for a while," he joked.

"Watto's great. He's charged in the last couple of days in the nets with the ball and smacked them around, so all good."