At this wee hour of night, I switched
on the TV to find Australia - West Indies ODI on ten sports. My sleeplessness
got some motive now.
As I switched on the TV, West Indies
needed 108 of 117 with 8 wickets in hand. It sounds like an easy job with lots
of wickets in hand and as per the run rate goes – after T20, 6 an over run rate
looks easier than ever. But not when you are playing against Australia. The victory
against them doesn’t look certain unless it has actually occurred and we hve
become quite used to of it over the years. This team just keep dominating no
matter what.
We anticipated, hoped, prayed them to
be a bit less lethal with the departure of McGrath and Warne, but the softening
doesn’t look creeping in. If Gilchrist’s retirement is going to have an effect,
remains to be seen.
Today, Australia has just one lethal
bowler – Brett Lee. The Clarks, the Jhonsons, the Brackens are all still not in
that category but they are supplement enough for Lee’s brilliance. When everyone
started waiting for Hayden’s retirement, Shaun Marsh seems to be praying for
his retirement. All in all, the story remains the same – they keep getting replacements
from their bench and they get them timely.
Even if they falter in one or more
departments of the game, one thing which you can always witness is the
intensity with which coupled with the disciplined makes them such a consistent
performer. For example, in the recent India Australia series in India, in one
of the matches they had a strategy of completely doing away with fine leg. It
makes life extremely difficult for bowlers. But they rarely erred in line. Not even
their weakest link, James Hopes. Expect the same form an Ajit Agarkar or Irfan
Pathan and you know the result. See them celebrate after every win – one
wonders about the childlike exuberance in the celebrations because they win so
often that they should have got bored by it. But they celebrate almost in
similar fashion no matter if it’s against Bangladesh or India – celebrations are
neither vulgar to suggest as if the win was they got something completely
unexpected nor sedate to suggest if its total boredom now after over a decade’s
dominance. That shows how eager they are to win each every match. We should, in
fact, replace the word eager by greedy.
This intensity, discipline and greed
to win makes them the most hated team – no matter who they are playing, more
often than not you tend to support their opponent.
The story continued in the match
also. West Indies were cruising at one point of time. They needed 36 of 43
balls with Bravo and Chanderpaul at the crease. If the bowling team wants to
win from here, they need something spectacular event which lifts their moral
and creates doubts in the batting side’s mind. Mike Hussey took a one handed
flying catch and the match started turning. Findley and Chanderpaul kept
meeting the run a ball requirement. With 12 needed in 17 balls, the match was
almost over for Australia. Credit must be given to West Indies from here for making
it so close and eventually loosing it. Ramadin could not score in 48th
over which made it 12 of 12 equation. Michael Clarke messed it up in selecting
the bowlers in the final overs although their bowlers did not let him down.
Bracken removed the last hope Chanderpaul and it was 8 needed in 6 balls. Shane
Watson, considered as one of the biggest disappointments for Australia due to
fragile fitness, bowled the last over. He is no Brett Lee but keeps bowling in
mid 130s and bowls intelligently with tight line and length. Still, one would
expect the batting team to pull of 8 of final over but it was not the case.
Watson gave just 6 singles of the last 6 balls and Australia pulled of another
sensational win out of no where. That is the beauty of their game – they hardly
come under pressure and when they come, they don’t often stumble. Once again it’s
the intensity level which is kept high till the last ball is bowled works for
them. Even if the match is in a stage which is nothing but a mere formality,
they will give as strong an attempt as in case of a close tie.
No doubt Australia is going to be
hurt by retirement of Gilchrist and may be Hayden will go soon. But they have
in their ranks weapons which they always wanted to have – all-rounder. James
Hopes was doing a decent job till now. Now Shane Watson has also come in to
give him company or may be competition.
In his latest book, Chetan Bhagat
tries to give a glimpse of Australia’s cricket structure at the grass root
level. What is most eye catching is their efforts to keep a player humble so
that he is always willing to work hard on his cricket and his start status, if
and when he succeeds at the highest level, doesn’t get into his mind.
- Vibhash