CRICKET OUTSTANDING, EVENT NOT SO
A drug scandal, political squabbling, a contracts dispute, ICC claims against teams not playing some of their matches, a strict ambush marketing protection mechanism and claims for and against the rights holders Global Cricket Corporation and an elaborate World Cup of too many matches may have dragged down the image of the event, but there was no denying the quality of cricket witnessed.
First, there was Australia’s brilliance in the field that helped cover up so much of the turmoil that took place off it. They lost Shane Warne to drug abuse that brought a one-year ban and then Jason Gillespie to injury. Their bench strength was such that their reserve pace bowler Andy Bichel became one of the heroes of the World Cup.
Some teams stayed away from Kenya and Zimbabwe, joint hosts of the pan-African event. Kenya sneaked through to Super Six thanks to New Zealand’s forfeit.
POLITICAL STATEMENT The Group ‘A’ match between African nations Zimbabwe and Namibia in Harare became the stage for a political statement as Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wore armbands protesting the ‘death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe.’ Flower was picked for the World Cup only when other players revolted over his exclusion. Olonga had been expelled by his club and made a quiet exit from the World Cup, seeking political asylum in the UK. The match itself was dominated by a knock of 172 from Craig Wishart, the highest for Zimbabwe. INDIA WAX AND
WANE A less than convincing performance against Holland should have woken up the Indian team. But they blundered on, bowled out for 125, their lowest ever World Cup total against an Australian attack, spearheaded by Brett Lee. Australia trotted to a win and fans back home were so incensed that effigies were burnt and homes of players stoned. NEHRA’S STAR TURN UNDER THE LIGHTS The coin fell in favour of India and bowling in the distinctly friendly conditions in the evening, Asish Nehra bamboozled England in his 6 for 23 to send Indian spirits soaring. A fine all round performance from Flintoff was in vain after Nehra’s success became the best ever figures in a World Cup. INDIA WIN MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT The Asian Ashes clashes are invariably considered the match of the World Cups. India, with three World Cup wins in a row over arch rivals Pakistan had a reputation to defend. The clash lived up to the hype. On a shirtfront of a pitch, Pakistan had a competitive total on the board at 273. Little Master Sachin played perhaps his best ODI innings, at least since the ones against Australia in Sharjah in 1998. Against an adrenaline-propelled attack of pure pace, Sachin upper cut and drove and carved Shoaib Akhtar into submission. AWESOME AUSSIES CROWNED CHAMPS The very prospect of facing Australia’s fast bowlers in the morning when there might be a bit of life in the pitch seemed too horrible to contend. And so Ganguly raised a few eyebrows by putting the Australians in. Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn were associated in the highest ODI partnership — of 234 — ever for Australia, who scored 359 for 2. Ponting smote eight sixes en route to his unbeaten 140.
The last 10 overs produced a 109 and Srinath conceded 87 runs in his quota.