On Sunday the world saw why the Australians can claim to be the best team of the decade as well as the first great team of the new century. They had not been playing to full potential over the last couple of weeks — at least their batsmen were not — but when it came to the big game, each player stood up to be counted. The Indians had their chances on Sunday, when Ganguly won the toss and allowed his hitherto in-form seamers first use of the wicket. There was bounce and carry for almost 90 minutes, but the Indians bowled really badly. They were a little too pumped up and it was uncharacteristic to see Zaheer try and get under the skin of Matthew Hayden. On the other side Adam Gilchrist did what he does best — unsettle the bowlers. Srinath tried everything, but Gilchrist was in awesome touch for only the second time in this World Cup. When Srinath came round the wicket, he was just a fraction short, and got hit out of the ground.
The only mistake the Indians made was after the openers were out. They should have brought Zaheer from one end, while, persisting with Harbhajan at the other end. This would have given the pacer some confident, and he would have bowled with his tail up since Ricky Ponting is a slow starter.
What is truly disappointing is that the Indians just could not get a wicket from then on. There were too many wides and no-balls and the captain just was at a loss as to what to do next. I felt for Ganguly since he just could not keep the runs down, no matter what field he set for his bowlers.
Ricky Ponting played his career-best innings and one must sympathize with the bowlers who had to face him in such form. It was the shock of the tournament for me, and by the end of the 50 overs he was rampant and unstoppable.
I felt for Sachin Tendulkar when he came in. His heart beat must have been 180-minute and when he pulled that back of length ball for a four, I knew his demise was near. One can’t blame the little master as there is little else to do when the asking rate is 7.2 runs an over. As things turned out McGrath took the little master once again and then it was only a matter of time. I had been hoping for a quickfire 100 from Sachin, but that was not meant to be. The rest of the batsmen went down playing their shots, but I was a little disappointed that nobody seemed to have kept their cool. Ganguly kept moving away and trying to carve Lee over point when he should have buckled down and waited for the Bichels and Hoggs. The whole approach be it Sachin, Sehwag or Ganguly was wrong, but the target was such that you can’t blame him. This is the second finals in four years that has been really one-sided.
The same Australian team had blown Pakistan away in ’99, and in 2003 they clinically decimated India. What was impressive was the intensity with which they played every game like it was their last one. This team is on another planet, and the question is who will catch up with this amazing unit, in the next four years. It’s a tough ask and right now I see no obvious candidates.
Arab News Sports 25 March 2003
