Ricky Ponting may find it a trifle irksome that an Aussie triggered off the revival of West Indies cricket, writes Ayaz Memon.
MUMBAI: Ricky Ponting may find it a trifle irksome that an Aussie triggered off the revival of West Indies cricket. After Brian Lara’s team had suffered a last-over defeat against India at Kingston in the first ODI last May, Greg Chappell (wearing the India coach hat) remarked that the West Indies had forgotten how to win. “That jibe inspired us to prove him wrong,” Lara was to say after his side had won the next game. From then on, it’s been a remarkable run of successes leading in to the final of the Champions Trophy, as even Chappell, who can only watch from the sidelines and wring his hands at what might have been, will agree.
The Australians are the best team in the world undoubtedly, and this is still not the West Indies at their best, but the pattern of the past six months suggests that the cricket could be competitive and riveting at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.
The West Indies have had mixed fortunes on this ground in this tournament, once being bowled out for a measly 80 against Sri Lanka. But Ponting is unlikely to forget that his team’s only defeat came against Lara’s side on this venue. Both these matches were strongly influenced by the underprepared pitch, but CCI’s officials believe that the conditions will be batsmen friendly this time.
“Fifteen days of sun and consistent rolling have made the surface firmer, shinier,’’ said Suru Nayak, chief of the cricket committee. Key players from both teams have struck good form. Australia’s, not surprisingly, has been more broad-based, with Gilchrist, Martyn, Symonds, McGrath, Lee — and most importantly Ponting — amongst the runs and wickets.
The West Indies formbook has been somewhat skewed, but such has been Chris Gayle’s impact — with bat and ball — that he could turn the match upside down single-handedly. That said, Lara is a big occasion player, and it can’t get bigger than this.
Man to man, the West Indies appear to be some way below the Aussies, but as a team, they appear to have got their act right. En route to the final, they have also beaten India and South Africa. Experts suggest an Australia win, but this is a funny old game that can make nonsense of the most highly considered opinions.
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