Cricket: CRAIG WHITE: We're all out to get a little bit of history

FORGET the Ashes. Forget the VB Series. This is the World Cup - a one-off match which anyone can win.

And there are very good reasons why we can defy the odds, defy those writing us off as no-hopers and defy the history book.

It's four long years and 14 games since we managed to get the better of Australia in a limited-overs encounter. Not since we scraped a seven-run victory in fairly dramatic style have we been the superior side.

So it's time to put the record straight and set this tournament alight. And there is no better place to do it than here in Port Elizabeth.

It's a place full of history and heritage. It is also a place that is now bursting with Englishmen, women and children all desperate for us to succeed.

And we CAN succeed, for these reasons:

First, we have the batsmen to cope with arguably the best bowling attack on the planet. On their day Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Nick Knight and the rest can tear any attack apart. Even if it includes Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.

Second, I'd put my shirt on Andy Caddick, Andy Flintoff, James Anderson and myself to do plenty of damage to the Aussie line-up.

Third, thanks to Duncan Fletcher and the rest of the coaching staff, we now rub shoulders happily with the Aussies when it comes to fielding.

If you're going to be the best, you have to play your best. Our best, I am sure, is good enough.

This one is a day match - no fretting about floodlights and the rest. It will be a fair contest throughout and the best side will win without the help of the toss.

We cannot complain about what happened against India because we had the good luck in the Pakistan match. We have to take the rough with the smooth.

Even though it's been a long, hard winter the players don't want to go home after this weekend. We want to stay to the very end.

Australia are such a talented team. They have no weaknesses that I see. And they will be in good heart after an easy win over Namibia.

A lot has been made of Lee's speed, but sheer pace doesn't always make the difference. It's no good being quick if you spray it all over the place. Shoaib Akhtar hit 100mph against us but he was also one of Pakistan's most expensive bowlers.

The slower bowlers have had a lot of joy in this tournament - the guys who constantly nag away and bowl the right line and length. They frustrate batsmen into getting out because it's so important to keep the scoreboard ticking along with just 50 overs to play with.

McGrath took seven wickets against Namibia and is clearly in good shape. And he will always be a big danger to England as long as he continues to play at the top.

Australia have qualified for the next stage already, but one thing I do know about this Aussie team is that they won't take their foot off the pedal.

They have the incentive of winning a record 12th one-day match if they come out on top. We want to stop them.

We come into this match very, very battle-hardened. We're ready for anything they can throw at us.

Every player will be prepared to lay his body on the line. If you don't feel that way you should not be out there on the field.

It's been a stressful few months. But the team spirit has remained the same and the belief that our adventures are far from over is still strong. We owe it to the fantastic support we have had, both in Oz and here in South Africa, to stay alive in this World Cup.

Losing to India in that manner hurt. It was hard on Andy Flintoff (below) especially because he bowled and batted superbly. But the coach and captain have always told the players not to dwell on the past.

Our future is in our own hands. Win here in Port Elizabeth and everything will be put right again. An England side has never won the tournament and this particular one is not dead yet.

We have a chance and we must not blow it. People keep going on about all the different permutations and that it could end up going down to run-rate even if we lose to Australia. Yet we are not even contemplating losing this game.

The mood in the camp is that it really is win or bust. And it's amazing what you can achieve when you have your backs against the wall and there is only one escape route.

Beating Australia is our escape route into the Super Sixes - and it's going to be such a magnificent occasion and atmosphere.

People may well harp on about how not going to Zimbabwe cost us dearly in the end if we do fail against Australia. But that's long gone now - and no matter what lies ahead in the next 24 hours all the players are still convinced that we did the right thing.

I'm sure there are some who didn't believe we'd get this near to qualifying for the Super Sixes after forfeiting those four points.

Personally, I have continued to put up with my sore back. The pain- killers allow you to carry on playing. It's not the happiest situation, but I'll get my body sorted out when I return home.

I just hope that isn't for a few more weeks because winning the World Cup was my dream as a child and they don't come along too often.

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