The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Weather holds the key

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 28, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Weather holds the key

By S. Dinakar

AMSTELVEEN, AUG. 27. It was a rather gloomy Friday here, with dark clouds and further showers threatening to disrupt the final of Videocon Tri-series, which has been already ravaged by rain. Ironically, the city basked in sunshine on Thursday, but then the weather has played several tricks over the last few days. In the event, the game has been the biggest loser.

The competition has witnessed less than hundred overs of play, with only one league game — the truncated match between India and Pakistan — being completed. More rain has been forecast for Saturday. And for everyone concerned — the players, the organisers, the media, the sponsors and the spectators — this has been an extremely frustrating period.

Incidentally, the last week has seen the heaviest rainfall in these parts in over five years! It's not easy for the players, whose practice sessions have been severely disrupted, to stay focused under these circumstances. However, if some cricket is finally possible on Saturday, both Australia and Pakistan, shaking away the rustiness, will only be all too keen to test their skills.

Quite astonishingly, Australia finds itself in the summit clash without bowling a single delivery! Ponting's men can hardly be blamed for the heavy downpour though. The Aussies do like to test themselves in different situations, and a rain-shortened final at the VRA ground might in itself come across as a challenge. How the side handles the situation in a sudden death situation might be watched with interest by the team management, headed by coach John Buchanan, who is as innovative as they come.

For Pakistan, the prospect of meeting the world champion, assuming that the weather clears, should stoke its combative instincts. The team has shown some progress under coach Bob Woolmer, in a short span, and the youngsters appear to be settling down.

With an element of moisture sure to remain on the pitch, batting first could be hazardous, even if the surface of a brownish hue has progressively assisted spin.

The Australians chose Michael Kasprowicz ahead of Jason Gillespie in the match against India, but may opt to field their strongest attack in the final. The two big names in the Pakistan line-up, Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana, will have to show the way against Glenn McGrath & Co.

Ponting wanted his bowlers to have a good workout. What better time to do it than in the title match of a competition. Of course, weather holds the key.

The teams (from):

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Brad Haddin, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Michael Kasprowicz, Ian Harvey, Shane Watson. Coach: John Buchanan.

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Yasir Hameed, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. Coach: Bob Woolmer.

Umpires: David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor. Third umpire. Mark Benson. Match

Referee: Chris Broad.

Hours of play (IST): 2 to 5.30 p.m. & 6.15 p.m. till end of match.

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