Moody warns of crowd chaos (19 June 1999)
Big Tom Moody is calling for calm from supporters ahead of tomorrow's World Cup final showdown between Australia and Pakistan at Lords
19-Jun-1999
19 June 1999
Moody warns of crowd chaos
The Lancashire Evening Telegraph
Big Tom Moody is calling for calm from supporters ahead of tomorrow's
World Cup final showdown between Australia and Pakistan at Lords.
The East Lancs professional of 1988 has voiced his fears over the
players safety following the pitch invasions which marred Pakistan's
semi final clash with New Zealand at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The game ended in chaos as jubilant Pakistani supporters twice broke
through the security cordone and ran onto the pitch, which resulted
in play being suspended for more than 10 minutes.
The Aussie all-rounder wants to avoid any repeat and is pleading with
fans to act sensibly, otherwise players could be at risk.
"We are quite concerned about it and it's certainly not an ideal
situation especially if the game goes down to the wire like ours did
on Thursday," said Moody.
"We certainly don't want a repeat of what happened at the end of the
Pakistan v New Zealand semi-final.
"But hopefully people will be sensible about it, respect the occasion
and behave appropriately."
Moody still hasn't come down to earth since the Aussies
nerve-jangling last over victory against South Africa at Egbaston on
Thursday.
Lance Klusener's late heroics looked to have secured a place in the
final for Hansie Cronje's men until Allan Donald was run out in
dramatic style just one run short of victory. "It was an amazing game
which ebbed and flowed one way then the other and nobody really had
full control at any point," said Moody.
"But it was just great to be on the winning side at the end.
"It did get very tense at times but I think it was a lot worse for
the fans who were watching from the sidelines than it was for the
players out in the middle.
"But we've gone from strength to strength as the competition has gone
on.
"We had a slow start but we've clicked into gear over the last six
games and peaked at the right time.
"There's no point playing every game like a final from the start
because you wouldn't be able to sustain that throughout the
tournament."
Moody was absent from the starting line-up when Pakistan won a
high-scoring encounter between the two sides in the group stages.
But he's looking forward to making amends tomorrow in what will be
the biggest game of his career so far.
"It's the most important game of my career, there's no question about
that.
"My first Test was a special match but games don't come any bigger
than a World Cup final at Lords.
"The attitude in our camp is very positive, like it has been
throughout.
"But Pakistan have got a number of high class players like Wasim
Akram and Saeed Anwar.
"Saqlain Mushtaq is also a fine spin bowler and then there's the
'Express Man' Shoaib Akhtar.
"So they've got a very strong side."
Source :: The Lancashire Evening Telegraph