The Hindu : What sets the Aussies apart?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

What sets the Aussies apart?

By Vijay Lokapally

JOHANNESBURG FEB. 16. How do you identify a good side? A side worthy of being acclaimed as the best in the world, a side being looked at in awe by one and all, a side which instils instant confidence among its supporters that they indeed have been backing the right team. Ask the Australians, for only they have the potion to win and win consistently.

When the Australians landed in South Africa to defend the title, the team had been through an agonising period. The controversy surrounding Darren Lehmann's racial remarks against the Sri Lankan players during the tri-series last month and the episode involving Shane Warne in a doping scandal had left Australia in a turmoil.

This was not the ideal way to prepare for its much-awaited World Cup title defence.

But, true to their famous mental resilience, the Australians got into their act without losing time. They whipped Pakistan and flogged India. These must rank as two of their most authoritative wins on the big stage against teams of repute. Interestingly, Australia had signed off the last World Cup in 1999 with a one-sided win against Pakistan and began the campaign in the same vein here.

What sets the Australians apart? Is it sheer talent or the aptitude to adapt and accept the challenge? It has to be a combination of all these.

There was much debate surrounding the exclusion of Steve Waugh for the World Cup but it must be said the great Aussie has not been missed. For that matter the Australians have not felt the pinch of Warne's absence either.

Australia's strength stems from the fact that it recognizes the weak and strong points quickly. And when it arrived at the Supersport Park in Centurion it had a game plan in place to brush the Indians aside. It made a wonderful sight to watch fast bowlers operate in tandem, and to a stifling line and length.

McGrath's assignement

Glenn McGrath was given the same assignment that saw him produce a sensational spell at The Oval in 1999. His job on this occasion too was to snare Sachin Tendulkar and he worked hard, testing the Indian in every possible manner.

For his part, Brett Lee relied on pace and succeeded by repeatedly getting the ball to rise to the rib cage. Sheer pace was a refreshingly effective way of rattling the Indians. The Aussies have a long memory. The discomfort that they caused Indians on their last tour to Australia on bouncy tracks was fresh in their mind.

And this was the reflected in the remark by Ricky Ponting that they had counted on pace to make an impact on the strong Indian batting line up.

To Australia's credit, it did not relent at any point. Jason Gillespie completed the attack with a canny variety of seam bowling. The clever change of pace and the line that he adopted to explore kept the Indians in a trance. They had no clue literally.

Australia's attack, described by Sourav Ganguly as the best in the world, was the key. It also must be the only complete attack with the emphasis on bowling within certain limitations. Recent surveys have shown McGrath as the most accurate bowler in world cricket. One can not remember McGrath straying on the leg side and that shows the bowler's competence.

Unsung hero

Gillespie has rarely got his due despite being a crafty fast bowler. His forte is breaking partnerships and can be an asset for any captain. Ponting acknowledged his importance by getting him to bowl first change in a move which got the best out of Gillespie. He worked on a line that was always going to be difficult to score off and his accuracy was the highpoint of Australia's wealthy attack.

Gillespie did not get perturbed on being denied the new ball because he was aware of Lee's ability to work up pace. The bounce in the pitch suited the Aussies well and it was left to this magnificent trio to expose the brittle nature of the Indian batting which has just forgotten the art of combating pressure in the past few months.

The Australians were aware of the fact that McGrath, Lee and Gillespie had to perform in the absence of Warne, who took care of the middle overs.

It was a job splendidly carried out thanks mainly to the trio sticking to the plan. The short ball was directed at the batsmen with purpose and the fielders backed the bowlers fabulously. They had the basics right. It was a flawless performance by the Aussie fast bowling trio and clearly the striking feature of Australia's confident start to this ICC Cricket World Cup.

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