In a matter of hours from now, CWC 2015 would unravel its biggest showdown yet - The Final. Australia vs Newzealand. What a fascinating contest this is going to be..
Like two bull dozers let loose off the hook, these two are going to get out there and play, I presume, rather hope, counter attacking cricket.
Neighbors, Rivals. Two great nations with even greater cricketing tradition behind them. In a way there is two ways of looking at this final. One is to say that New Zealand have peaked too early and that they would have to repeat, maybe even better, what they did against south africa in that epic semi final. And two that Australia haven't been put under the kind of pressure which New Zealand have been put under.
Even in the low key matches, New Zealand were put under a little bit of pressure. The fact that Australia is yet to play their A game yet gives them edge. The fact that New Zealand have been tested, gives them one.
Look what happened to India. They bullied their way through and Australia bullied them. And to make things even worse, Dhoni kept griefing about how his lower order were not tested unlike some of the other teams in the tournament, for the most part of the tournament.
Australia were merciless against them in the semis. Absolutely merciless.
Well led by the talismanic Michael Clarke. The likes of Steven Smith's, Davey Warner. One of the best modern finishers in James Faluker. One of the best death bowlers in Mitchell Stark. Even Mitch Jhonsson and Brad Haddin is a threat. Like Rickie Ponting exalted, its hard to find a weakness in this Australian line up.
As much as I hate and adore Australia for their Brilliance, I have to say my sentiment is vested with New Zealand now that there is no India.
On paper, both teams look evenly poised. Some may say may be Australia. But hey! Consider the fact that New Zealand have a number #7, #8 and with a test hundred to their names then you might just about agree with me.
The last time these two teams met, New Zealand saw the finishing line but only just. And the great irony is that that game has no bearing on the outcome of this game. Or rather the game that is just about to unravel.( As far as I know if its a tie, there is going to be a superover)
It doesn't matter who the best team is, ts all about handling pressure better. If best teams on paper had won the cup always. Then we wouldn't have had the 1983, 96 world cup heists.
Sport is all about the underdog uprising story. For some strange odd reason Brendan Mccullam and his kiwi side find themselves to be that underdog team come March the 29th. Anyways I don't wanna make a prediction here. But I'd just love to remind you something - The Only time the Kiwis got into the final of an ICC event they had gone on to win( Against Ganguly's team in 2000).
And yet, for the most part of their rich cricketing history New Zealand lived with the underdog tag just like CSA lived with the chokers tag. This isn't a game for fairytale finish so they say. Guess what? Even the god had scripted one the last time a world cup final was played.
For Martin Crowe, for New Zealand. For the 5 ode million New Zealanders my sentiment is fully vested with them. Go Brendan. The cup is shining brightly on you.
