The Hindu : Sport : Big disappointment for the fans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 13, 2005

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Big disappointment for the fans

World XI came across an Australian side that was hurting from an Ashes loss and eager to prove itself.

STEVE WAUGH

I had predicted that the World XI would take a game to get used to playing as a team. Sadly, it took them longer than that, and right till the conclusion of the one-day series, they looked casual, unmotivated and flat.

This was a great disappointment for most cricket fans, because this was a good concept, and while I thought being chosen for the World XI would motivate the players, it just was not the case. After the first game, I had hoped that hurt pride would reflect in the next two games, but the visitors just went from bad to worse.

Perhaps the selectors will have to work more at getting the right combination on the field. They had chosen the 14 best players in the world, but next time they must choose guys who gel well together. The World XI players were uninspired in every department of the game. They bowled casually, did not look like they had a plan with the bat, and they fielded sloppily. The notable exceptions were the Sri Lankans, Kumara Sangakkara and Mutthiah Muralitharan, and Daniel Vettori from New Zealand.

This proves that players from the more low profile sides were hungry to prove themselves while the superpowers from the powerhouses of world cricket did not get going at all.

Motivated side

To make matters worse, the World XI came across an Australian side that was hurting from an Ashes loss and eager to prove itself. The hosts looked more sprightly and enthused than they did right through the tour in England. What's more, every new experiment employed by the think tank clicked, and the players who were brought in place of some veterans really rose to the occasion.

Shane Watson really looked the part right through the series. He is a really hard-working youngster who has been part of the squad for quite some time now, and he looked like he had the energy and talent to be part of this champion side. Matthew Hayden was a champion opener and it was a big void to fill, but Simon Katich was once again the quiet, efficient soldier who went about his job with maximum efficiency and minimum fuss. Hussey has always impressed me as a player for the future in both forms of the game, and he did his cause no harm by chipping in with some important runs.

All this must come as a huge relief for Ricky Ponting, since he was receiving some unnecessary criticism after returning from England.

Clearly, he along with some of the seniors had a point to prove, and they did it in style. Some players were obviously on notice, particularly after Hayden and Gillespie had been dropped. They reacted positively to this pressure, and right now I feel that the team has a good mix of the new and the old.

Vital cog

It was good to see Adam Gilchrist at his belligerent best at the top of the order. He is a crucial cog in both versions of the game, and his return to form was one of the main reasons for Australia's clean sweep.

Brett Lee, who really emerged as the new strike bowler in England, was once again outstanding.

All this made great viewing for the crowds at the Telstra Dome, but in the absence of a significant challenge from the opposition, the whole series became a little lop-sided. The teams now move to Sydney, and hopefully the new elements in the side will provide us with some better cricket.

(Gameplan)

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