The ease with which the West Indies reached the finals of the Champions Trophy will have sent warning signals to the Australian camp. West Indies is also the only team to beat the Aussies in this tournament and the Aussies know that they have to be on their toes to win the Trophy for the first time.
In the first semis, Australia would have appreciated the fact that New Zealand gave them some exercise. At one stage it looked as if that match would get over within 30 overs of New Zealand batting, so well did the Aussie new ball bowlers bowl. Daniel Vettori has come on so well as a lower order batsman apart from his primary skill as a left-arm spinner that he bids fair to be tagged a genuine all-rounder now.
Unfortunately none of the experienced guys from New Zealand could stick at the crease and to be honest they looked awestruck by the big brother.
The West Indians have shown in their group encounter with the Aussies that they will not take a backward step. Whether it is the presence of Clive Lloyd in the dressing room that has made this West Indian side not look away or something else, the change is exciting for the followers of West Indies cricket. During his time, Clive Lloyd gave his team such a fierce sense of pride in the Caribbean region that his team could get up from the floor and defeat the opposition. This West Indies team hasn’t quite learnt to do that as yet looking at the collapse that happened in the earlier round and there’s still not the complete realization of the opportunities that are on offer. For example, there was no need for Bravo and Smith to play the shots that they did. Sure West Indies cricket is aggressive cricket but that has to be tempered as the Australians have done so well. Smith should have used the opportunity to get some useful time out in the middle, instead he played a shot that he would not normally attempt so soon in the nets as well. It is these vulnerabilities that have let the team down in the past and it’s in these areas that the West Indies need to tighten up if they are to retain the championship and be a force in the world cricket again. The one-day game can turn on it’s head very quickly indeed and a lapse in concentration or a casual approach, whether batting or bowling can make the difference between No. 1 and losing.
Both teams will also be aware that they have conceded a fair amount of extras with wides and no balls and in a close game this can tilt the scales. While it is understandable that there will be some wides with the white new ball, the bowlers will do their sides a big favor if they don’t bowl wides in the later stages of the innings.
The two best teams in the competition have fittingly reached the finals. The Australians, never having won the Champions Trophy, want to win badly and if the West Indians don’t want to let go of the trophy they won in 2004 as badly, then we are in for a helluva contest.
