As a neutral observer, it was sad to witness a one-day World Cup final that was all over at the break itself. This is the second successive finals in which the Australian team has mowed down the opposition, and its time the world realizes that this team is right up there with some of the best sides of all time.
Saurav Ganguly was badly let down by his bowlers. We had seen the wicket in the morning and there was a lot in it for the opening bowlers. The occasion obviously got to Srinath and Zaheer and the turning point was when Hayden and Gilchrist got the side to go for no loss in 10 overs.
It was as much a testimony to some great batting as it was to some horrendous bowling. From then onward it was easy for the batsmen to maintain a six-runs per over momentum right through the innings. They would do this without breaking a sweat by merely milking the bowlers once the field was spread.
Ricky Pointing played the greatest knock of his career in the most important game of his career and that is something that is rare and remarkable.
That was the difference between the two sides — one side loved the big occasion, while the other were completely intimidated by it. If the Australians turned the match around in 10 overs, they had it in their firm grip in the 50th over.
India had no chance of chasing 360 against an attack that boasted of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel. There was nothing a batsman even of Tendulkar’s caliber could do against such odds.
Those who are murmuring about his supposed failure on big occasions should be strung up from the highest tree. He is one of the main reasons India were in the finals and by the time he came into the equation India’s bowlers had already given the game away.
The final analysis is the bowlers took the gas, lost their heads and blew it big time. It is pointless to expect this side to chase a 360 target against the best fielding and bowling unit in the world. Quite simply, India blew it in the first hour.
As I said earlier, this Aussie unit is a very special one, and the world will now have to catch up with them. There are plenty of sides, most of whom rely on players who are 30 and under who can do it. In a couple of years Warne and McGrath will have to quit and that would take away a 1000 wickets immediately. Till that happens the Australians are the most charismatic side in world cricket and that’s something India and the rest of the world will have to accept for the moment.
Arab News Sports 28 March 2003
