A `mismatch' again; this time at the `Bull-ring'!!!
By: Venkatachalam. A. Krishnan
This was published in CRICKETNEXT.COM on Monday, March 24, 2003 - The day after Australia won the final beating India.
http://www.cricketnext.com/yoursay/krishnan/krishnan11.html
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There was the unmistakeable aroma of tension in the air when Saurav Ganguly walked out to toss the coin. Luck favoured him but common sense had already deserted him. The fate of the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in Johannesburg, South Africa was decided the moment Ganguly, the captain of the Indian team decided to put the Australians into bat after having won the all-important toss.
The defensive decision proved that Ganguly did not want himself and the other batsmen in his team to be exposed to the Aussie fast bowlers. More importantly, it clearly conveyed that the Indians went into the match with the belief that they can not win it. The Australian captain Ricky Ponting grabbed the gift with an euphoric smile and what followed was, as they say, `HISTORY'.
True to the atmosphere at the imposing amphitheatre known as the `Bull-ring', the Australian batsmen tortured the Indian bowlers like bull-tamers going about their task with sharp weapons on the help-less bulls. The Indian medium-pace trio was one of the best in the tournament. Not today. None of them were relaxed enough to perform to their potential. The ball just wouldn't leave their hands on time and thus they ended up bowling way too short of the ideal length. The fact that they went for 214 runs from just 27 overs conveys the real story.
Adam Gilchrist loves such length just too much to let go of the opportunity. The match was decided within the first few overs. Once Gilchrist and Hayden started to play the way they did, there was no looking back. The shoulders of the Indian fielders drooped and they just wanted to get over with it at the earliest. The bowling-rate of the Indians (16 overs per hour) stands as ample proof to this. But haste indeed makes waste.
Ricky Ponting played the innings of his life to rewrite a spate of records. It was his `day' and he could do whatever he wanted to and get away with it. Demien Martin played the ideal supporting role. He had come back from an injury, but never once did he look uncomfortable or unfit. His innings was no less valuable than the one from Ponting.
Once such a total was put on the board, there was no way the Indians were going to reach it. Even Rain could not save the Indians today. Sehwag played some great shots in what was to be his highest score of the tournament but that was never enough. The Aussies were just too good for the Indians.
But all is not lost for the Indians. They can take heart from the good showing in the tournament. When the event was in its initial stages, none gave any chance to them and they have proved everyone wrong. Well, almost !
Now how does anybody beat the Aussies ?! One possible way is to bring in new rules in the lines of Formula 1 Motor sports. Ferrari was invincible in the past few years and the circuit was losing its popularity. This season, the rules have been modified drastically (though one may say unfairly) and as a result, the first two races have not seen any Ferrari face on the podium. Maybe, to make the World Cup more competitive in 2007, the ICC can introduce a rule making all Aussie right handers to bat and bowl left-handed and vice versa.
But then, I wont be surprised if the Aussies come in with an `AMBIDEXTROUS' team and still dominate world cricket !!!
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