Big scores could be common in the West Indies, where the small grounds will encourage the sort of boundary-clearing strokes that led to a combined 20 sixes at Eden Park on Sunday. Unless Australia's attack can remember how to bowl some tight, containing overs in the middle or closing stages, their one-day crown will be in danger of slipping even further.

Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken, two of their most reliable performers, have been below par in 2006-07. Both suffered at the destructive hands of Jacob Oram at Perth as New Zealand came agonisingly close to overhauling Australia's 343. The pair was also part of the four-man pace attack that could not break the partnership between Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell after England were in desperate trouble in the first CB Series final at Melbourne.

Bracken has picked up wickets here and there but his consistency in breaking top-order partnerships with the swinging white ball has fallen away. McGrath has not rediscovered the joy of his Test farewell and his ageing body has been unable to produce the metronomic accuracy that formerly demanded respect from batsmen the world over.

Mitchell Johnson has left behind the form that earned him the prize wickets of Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar at the DLF Cup in September. When he plays, he is now targeted by batsmen who want to belt him out of the attack.

As Ross Taylor and Peter Fulton reeled in the target at Auckland, what Australia needed was a string of miserly overs that ballooned the required run-rate close to ten an over. Tait, McGrath, Bracken and Shane Watson all threatened to do it but there was always a loose ball just around the corner that let the batsmen relieve the pressure with a boundary.

Australia have missed Andrew Symonds and his habit of tearing through overs of offspin as their fit slow-bowling options, Brad Hogg and Cameron White, went for a combined 87 from ten overs. White is, at this stage, not going to the West Indies but Hogg needs to regain the form that made him such a useful part of Australia's 2003 World Cup squad.

He has had limited opportunities this season and his knack for picking up important wickets seems to have deserted him. Batsmen have been willing to push him around and try for boundaries by hitting with the spin. On big grounds that can lead to outfield catches but on smaller ones he will need more control.

Nathan Bracken must again become Australia's new-ball destroyer © Getty Images

Within the 15-man World Cup squad, there are precious few other possibilities. Johnson was the only fit bowler going to the Caribbean who did not play on Sunday but he went for 49 from his eight overs two days earlier as New Zealand inflicted Australia's first ten-wicket loss. There will be a temptation to bring in Stuart Clark, who is known for his consistency, if Brett Lee does not recover from his ankle injury.

That might not be the best solution. Clark has been a Test match star but like the others, he has been too costly in the limited-overs game. His predictability - and on occasions his lack of control of the white ball - have led to an economy rate of 6.40 from his last ten games. He was the leading culprit as West Indies chased down Australia's 272 in Malaysia in September, when he went for 87 from seven overs as Chris Gayle unleashed a fierce assault.

Australia say they have been fine-tuning their attack in the lead-up to the World Cup. But they cannot possibly suggest their bowling line-up is in its best shape after their recent efforts, although Watson showed some promising signs on Sunday with his control and subtle variations. McGrath, Bracken, Johnson, Watson and Hogg are all capable of match-winning spells on their day. However, limited-overs bowling is largely about containment and unless they can remember how to restrict the runs, they will go to the West Indies in serious danger of being overpowered.

In their pool matches the No. 1-ranked South Africa will be looking to justify their promotion and Australia must be on their game to contain Herschelle Gibbs and his team-mates. After that, any number of sides and individuals could hurt Australia. A destructive Gayle, a resurgent Sanath Jayasuriya, a fit-again Oram or a rejuvenated Sourav Ganguly are just a few of the countless threats. They have all taken notice of the last month and will want to prove they too can conquer the former masters.

The Aussies have only shown that they are mortals like others and can be beaten.One thing for sure though is that their bowling in the absence of Shane Warne,Brett Lee and an ageing Mcgrath, is a weak link which can be a problem in the event of assaults being launched against them.The Kiwis have certainly surprised the cricket world with some audacious cricket and the key point to be noted is the advent of new unheard names of Taylor&Fulton who have been a revelation.The outstanding newcomers should maintain their performance and try to emulate the likes of Hussey and Hodge who have made such a huge impact in the limited time they have been in international cricket.The World Cup certainly promises to be an exciting affair with little to choose between the teams and on their day any team can be a winner.

There is no doubt about the fact that we are having problems with the bowling department. But there are 2 other factors that must be discussed in relation to this. Firstly is the fielding which has not been to the standard that we have come to expect. Having not seen the New Zealand games I cannot comment in this respect. But it was pretty obvious in the one day series that the fioelding was poor. Dropped catches and overthrows the likes we have not seen for years. McGraths dropped catch (not isolating him as the only villain) in the first final against England was critical to the eventual outcome of the game. Having heard comments from commentators it seems like the fielding in New Zealand was not much better. Secondly it comes as no surprise to me that the four record run chases have come under the captaincy of Ponting & Hussey. As much as these two are genius' when it comes to batting, they are far from the tacticians of like the likes of Waugh & Warne. Ponting in particular seems not to know when to press the advantage and to apply the screws, something Waugh was magnificent at. Also in the second final against England, Brett Lee bowled magnificently, yorker after yorker. One could not ask him to bowl better. Yet the field placements covered areas the ball could not possibly go to bowling such a line yet left open the areas the ball was regularly being edged through. No change was made to the field and the Poms were able to continually get 6 runs an over from Lee, through no fault of his. Sure it may seem a strange to place a field for edges, but if that is where the ball is being hit, then you need the fieldsmen there. The bowlers need support, both in pushing home an advantage, the correct field placements and solid fielding fielding. When they do not have this they look worse than perhaps they are actually bowling. Cricket is a game where the teams are all pretty good, so the outcomes can be decided by the one percenters, which Australia have not been doing well. To win the world cup, all these areas need to be addressed.

The whole bowling setup needs to be looked at. Bracken was never a death bowler and why he has been given that job is beyond comprehension. bowling full tosses at leg stup is a cardinal sin in one day cricket, let alone when the opposition need 8 an over in the last 15 overs. Mcgrath hasn't been up to it scince the last test. Remember the time when the like of steve waugh, blewett, flemming, and Dale, who all used to bowl no more than 135 kph, could hit yorker length time and time again and used to choke sides to wins. its the simple things. bowl where they cant get under the ball. yorker length at off stump.

We have heard much about the fact that Australia have now been on the receiving end of four of the highest run totals in history. However, perhaps one needs to ask what happened to the opposition bowling to let them get those high scores that were pipped in the end. All of the grounds were postage stamp sized grounds with gun barrel straight pitches. In each case the Australian batsmen have paced their innings and then crunched the bowling at the end. They really don't know how much is enough on these pitches. The team batting second knows exactly how much is enough. In all these matches, the opposition has been in a position to pace themselves. When you can just swing through the line of the ball safe in the knowledge that even a misshit can sail over the boundary, the bowlers are relying on the batsmen to run out of luck - cos surely that is often the decider. The game has become something of a hitters paradise- most of these big hitters do not have a great technique, but have a great eye. I would like to have seen New Zealand bat first at least once and see if they can make a big score (you would have to presume they would on that track), and then see how the Australians went about pacing themselves in the chase. In all of thse big chases, Australi has lost 4, 5,4 and 7 wickets, The opposition has lost 9,9,5, 8. To me it suggests that the Australians may well have a fair bit still in the tank. It will be interesting to see how they go batting second with a huge target.
Mick

The problem is that the good bowlers have been left at home.ie Gillespie Clark,true containment bowlers.You have to feel for Hussey,he did his best with a pathetic bowling attack.At least four of the bowlers should be sent home now to avoid further embarasment.Selectors ? What selectors!