No title for Australians cricketers
It was through sheer bad luck that the Aussies lost in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup to England last Sunday. But the way the Australian cricket team performed prior to the final, especially in the semi final against Pakistan, the only team that could have dethroned them would have been their own side. Their batting order had the depth of an ocean, all players in the side except the wicket keeper could not only turn their arms over but also take wickets when it mattered and they ran many players out and saved quite a few runs with their athletic fielding.
Before England on Sunday, no team had managed to beat Australia to the race for the one-day World Cup since 1999, although they have lost here and there, but never when it mattered: the most. They defeated Pakistan in the final of 1999 World Cup at Lord’s, despite losing the league match against them, demolished India at Johannesburg 4 years later in the final and completed the hat trick of World Cup titles in 2007 but defeating the resilient Sri Lankans with help from the weather and the goofy umpires!
They were also the losing side on two occasions in the World Cup, in the inaugural World Cup in 1975, they lost to Clive Lloyd’s West Indies at Lord’s and at Lahore in 1996, were stunned by Sri Lanka who changed the game by using pinch hitters while batting and spinners while bowling. In between was 1987, where Allan Border led his side to a surprise World Cup title where they defeated Mike Gatting’s English side at Calcutta, in one of the most thrilling matches ever.
It would be incorrect if one says that Paul Collingwood avenged the defeat of the 1987 World Cup by beating Australia 23 years later. The Oz has history on their side because in 1987, they defeated the mighty Pakistanis in the semi finals before playing an Ashes final and finally clinching the title.
No one in his right mind would have expected England to beat the Aussies, who won the ICC Champions Trophy on two occasions unlike England who before the Twenty20 World Cup had never won an ICC event! But England changed the course of the history and succeeded in winning their first ICC final in 5th attempt.
The Twenty20 World Cup remains the one trophy that the Aussies have never won. Their best chance was in the Caribbean where they had in form batsmen, five of whom had crossed the 100 run mark.
Similarly in the bowling department, the Oz lead by Dutch import Dirk Nannes who was not only the leading wicket taker in the event but also dealt crucial blows whenever required. He was well supported by Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait who were as good if not better than Nannes.
It was shocking to see Australia lose to England in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup. They were the undefeated side in the event unlike England who lost to the hosts West Indies and rain in their league match. The Oz was also the only team throughout the event to garner large margin victories, consistently. They downed Sri Lanka by 81 runs in their Super 8 match, knocked out India by 49 runs, defeated Pakistan in their league match by 34 runs, West Indies by 6 wickets and Pakistan in their semi final by 3 wickets. However they failed to match the brilliance of Collingwood the captain, and England the team, who worked twice as hard on the D-Day, to win the final.
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