A view from the Gully (20 June 1999)

20 June 1999

A view from the Gully

The Daily Star

Curtains will be drawn today on the most exciting World Cup ever held this century. Twelve nations began their quest for the coveted trophy in the longest and biggest tournament that spread over a month and presented a large number of forty-two matches played across five countries.

But only two can play the final. Australia and Pakistan have qualified for the final contest.

Twelve nations started off the block in the home of the game but except a selected few, others did not fancy their chances in the competition. The preliminary round produced some shock results as teams like Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, the West Indies, once the darling of the crowd, England the innovators of the game rather meekly bade farewell. When these teams could not achieve the results New Zealand and Zimbabwe surprised everyone by qualifying for the Super Six.

It was a pitiful sight to see Australia and India struggling to win a place in the semifinals. Both these giants started from a scratch in the Super Six having failed to bring with them any points from the preliminaries. Both had to win all three matches at this stage of the competition which was absolutely unlikely. Australia did, India failed. It was truly frustrating for a team which had prepared themselves for the big occasion mentally and physically. Only thing missing was a strong determination to win.

Australia had two tough matches against South Africa which they won after lot of sweat and struggle to be in the final. But Pakistan had two easier opponents to beat to reach the end of the road. So, the two giants of modern cricket will be locking horns at the mecca of cricket before a soldout house.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787 and its early history relates directly to the development of Lord's cricket ground itself, says Wisden. Thomas Lord, a Yorkshireman born in Thirsk in 1775 had by 1780 found his way to London when he took employment at the recreation ground at White Conduit Fields, Islington. Here he met members of the White Conduit Cricket Club (founded in 1782) who were not satisfied with the cricket ground at Islington and suggested to Lord that he should find a more exclusive ground for their use. This he found at Dorset Fields. In 1787 the first match was played on this ground between Middlesex and Essex and the MCC was founded by Thomas Lord's patrons from the White Conduit Club headed by Lord Winchelsea.

Australia enter the final with six successive victories after two losses in the first round and Pakistan have two back to back wins after their consecutive losses to Bangladesh, South Africa and India. While the Aussies had two tormenting experience against the Proteas, their opponents had comfortable fixtures against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. So physically the Pakistanis should feel better than their opponents. Australia must make a sound start against Shoaib and Akram and have to be careful against Saqlain if he bowls well. They have a longer tail than Pakistan, so the top and middle order must cope with the potent Pakistani attack.

The Pakistanis on the other hand must bowl with discipline and Wasim Akram should lead the way. Generous dose of nos and wides will be suicidal for them. If there is no change in the winning combination Ijaz must come good in this vital match. The way Shane Warne bowled against the Proteas should serve as an eye opener and he should be treated very carefully. 'The weakness in the fifth bowler slot should be capitalised by the Pakistan batsmen and their running should be flawless.

Both Steve Waugh (34) and Wasim Akram (33) will be eager to win the trophy because this could very well be the last chance for them. And we may be in for an absorbing day's cricket, weather gods permitting.

Source :: The Daily Star