Well-oiled batting puts Australia in the box seat against S.Africa

Port Elizabeth: After a period of worrying uncertainty, Australia once again boasts a batting line-up to be feared.

The No.1 team in one-day cricket is gunning for a knockout win in the three-match series over South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, and it`s the well-balanced bats that are setting the foundation. According to a leading daily, the tourists know they have an out-of-sorts South Africa where they want them, and will exercise their killer instinct to take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead at St George`s Park, where they hold a 4-2 advantage over the Proteas. South Africa are showing the effects of not having played any cricket since the World Cup, and their attack is struggling for penetration against Australia, who have rediscovered their batting mojo. ``Obviously it`s a big game, we know South Africa are a quality team and they`ll be up for this game,`` wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said. He added: ``Winning every game we play for Australia is important … we want to make sure we`re going in the right direction and every series we go into we want to win.`` It wasn`t long ago that selectors appeared in a muddle over how to best shape the future of Australia`s batting across one-day and Test cricket. Big stars such as Michael Clarke were failing, Ricky Ponting appeared run down by the captaincy and even Mr.Cricket himself, Michael Hussey, was fighting for his place in the team. However, key changes have been made, the shackles have been lifted and the line-up is refreshed and confident across both forms. The experienced foundation of Hussey, Ponting, Clarke and Watson all average more than 42 in one-day internationals. ANI