Times Media
TELFORD VICE, Melbourne
THE Indians and their arrogance have gone the way of the South Africans and their sadness. Ten other teams didn’t last even that long. Two have been left standing, and they meet in the World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.
It doesn’t get bigger or smaller than this. Bigger because no other one-day international means as much. Smaller because, 48 matches and six weeks ago, who would’ve thought that the last two teams in the mix would be neighbours? That’s if you consider the Tasman Sea to be the fence between them.
For Australia, whose four previous triumphs in the tournament already makes them the most successful World Cup team, No. 5 would mean they have won almost half of the 11 events yet played.
For New Zealand, this is unchartered territory. Before their heart-stopping victory over SA in Auckland on Tuesday, they had lost all six of their semi-finals.
Australia didn’t have nearly as much trouble subduing India in Sydney on Thursday. A century from Steve Smith and Indian batting that looked as tired as MS Dhoni has for a few years now was all it took.
With that, thousands of hotel rooms across Melbourne became available and the airport was clogged with fleeing fans in blue shirts.
And now this - a showdown in the MCG corral, cricket’s grandest arena and a place where the Kiwis have won only eight of their 24 one-day internationals and just four of 19 against the Australians.
The Aussies have won 71 of their 118 ODIs at the MCG. But the Kiwis will want to hold onto the fact that only one side - Zimbabwe - have not beaten them there. SA, for instance, have come out on top six of the seven times in which they have played Australia at the MCG. If only ...
However, to hear Michael Clarke tell it, the MCG is the ultimate home ground. “The fact that the conditions are different will certainly help us, and we’ve played a fair bit of cricket throughout the summer at the MCG,” he said.
New Zealand, who have all of their World Cup matches at home, were last involved in an ODI at the MCG in February, 2009. But they won it.
Whatever. Whoever. Clarke didn’t care: “New Zealand deserve a lot of credit - they’ve been the form team of the tournament. But I don’t think it bothers us too much who we play.
“It was our priority and our goal to get into the final. And it happens to be (against) New Zealand.”
Actually, maybe Clarke did care: “The fact that the two hosting nations are in the final is extremely special. I think there’s a great mutual respect between the teams. Australia and New Zealand on and off the cricket field have a wonderful relationship.”
Not that there will be much bromance going in the stands on Sunday. The crowd at Eden Park for the Kiwis’ semi-final set an unmatched example for how cricket should be watched. They were constantly aware of what was happening in the match and the consequences of what was happening. When a single digit changed on the scoreboard, a roar or a groan went up.
The New Zealanders have left all that behind. Instead, they will have to beat one of the most cocksure teams in front of one of the most boorish crowds.
They will need more of the stuff that Grant Elliott had flowing through his veins on Tuesday.
“This game, it’s amazing,” Elliott said after his 84 not out nailed SA’s coffin shut. “Once you’re in the zone and you’re playing with freedom and you’re not really thinking, then it’s a great game.
“It’s just see the ball, hit the ball. You don’t premeditate with batting. The less you think, the better.”
Damn straight.
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