World Cup final will be an exciting contest
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Not many gave Pakistan a chance to reach the finals of the World Cup but I have always believed that they are a dangerous side who peak at the right time. Of course, their path to the final was helped by South Africa who had a shocking game against Netherlands. Once they got a sniff, Pakistan were all over. They have not done too badly actually in this competition. Mind you their two defeats to India and Zimbabwe happened in the last ball of the match.
They played an outstanding semi-final. Their bowling was awesome while their openers clicked when it mattered most. The important thing about the run chase was that they were positive and never took a backward step and this put New Zealand under tremendous pressure.
The conditions in Sydney, a two paced wicket, was to Pakistan’s liking. New Zealand never had any momentum when they batted and they were completely outplayed. Pakistan have an attack which has all the bases covered. They have both pace and seam. Then there’s variety in right-arm fast bowlers and left-arm quicks. Then if you take their spin department, there’s leg-spin, off-spin and left-arm spin. That’s a captain’s dream.
Then what about their fielding; that’s one area they have improved tremendously in the last few years. I thought they saved at least 15 runs in the semi-final. That can win you games.
England meanwhile completely outplayed India. I thought on that Adelaide wicket, the par score was 180. India’s top three batters never got going and if not for Hardik Pandya’s big hitting they would have been in deep trouble. There have been lot of questions asked in India about their campaign. India’s was not a convincing performance at all in this World Cup. Their bowling was found to be wanting.
The ease with which England chased down this target should give them much confidence. However, the bowling attack they will face in the final will be much tougher than what they faced against India in Adelaide.
Talking about Adelaide, it’s a ground where I have some fond memories. It was in Adelaide I scored my maiden Test hundred. I had not played the first two Tests at MCG and Perth on that tour. There were few injuries and I was drafted in given the success I had had in the ODI series and I just played my natural game. That hundred secured my place in the Test side.
In Adelaide, the square boundaries are short and that’s ideal for my game as I like to cut and pull a lot. Of course there was that six off Shane Warne straight down the ground. I will never forget that.
Ian Healey and Shane Warne were playing a few mind games. In the last over before the day, they were holding up play by chatting mid-patch trying to distract me. I am someone who never gets distracted by what the opposition say or do. I focus on my game and my strengths. The ball was there to be hit and I hit it. That’s the simple theory that has got me lot of success.
I just hope the rain keeps away from MCG. The prediction is not too good and if the rain clears we can get to see a good game.
England will be hoping that Mark Wood comes good. He is their key bowler and with the new ball if he is able to get a wicket or two, Pakistan will be exposed as their middle order hasn’t done much in the tournament.
It will be an exciting final. MCG will be full with 100,000 fans cheering their heroes. You don’t get another atmosphere like that anywhere else in the world. Or, well maybe at Eden Gardens in Calcutta. There, you get 100,000 inside the ground and 50,000 outside the ground. The craze for cricket in Calcutta is unimaginable.
Two best teams are in the final and if rain permits, we will see a cracker of a game. Let the best team win.