The Hindu : Sport : The two giants of the one-day game

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Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007
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The two giants of the one-day game

S. Dinakar

Australia and West Indies have won five of the eight World Cups so far

From the West Indies' triumph in the inaugural 1975 World Cup to Australia's waltz in 2003 — between them the two cricketing giants have won five titles — the one-day format has changed shape and colour.

From the whites and the red ball, to restrictions in field, coloured clothing, white ball, floodlights and now the Power Play overs, the game has evolved.

Australia has kept pace with the innovations. West Indies, the winner in the first two editions, has floundered.

Skipper Clive Lloyd's spectacular 85-ball 102 took West Indies to 291 for eight in 60 overs in the '75 final against Australia, an imposing total in that era. There was no bouncer rule or field restrictions pertaining to limited overs cricket, yet Lloyd's effort included 12 boundaries. Lloyd's knock was skilful, inventive and ahead of its times.

West Indies held its nerve to beat Ian Chappell's men by 17 runs. A young Vivian Richards effected three blinding run-outs. One-day cricket had arrived.

In 1979, the Caribbeans were armed with the mean pace quartet of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft. They crushed the field.

After Richards pounded an unbeaten 138 — West Indies made 286 for nine in 60 overs in the final at Lord's — the host's chase was mismanaged by Geoff Boycott and skipper Mike Brearley. The openers crawled — it was the era of Test cricket and pacing of an innings was still in its infancy — and then Garner destroyed the line-up with scorching yorkers; again a sign of things to come. The swinging toe-crushers were here to stay.

Australia's campaigns in '79 and '83 were disastrous. The side required strong leadership — Allan Border stepped in. Guiding Border in India and Pakistan in '87 was the strategically brilliant Bob Simpson.

On pitches lacking in bounce, the change of pace was a crucial aspect. Steve Waugh's subtle variations — another innovation in limited overs cricket — kept Australia alive at the `death'.

Forerunners

On slow wickets, a side could not afford to get bogged down in the middle overs when the spinners operated. Dean Jones, working the ball around and running hard, kept the run-rate chugging along. These efforts were forerunners of things to come.

Pace spearhead Craig McDermott fired in the climactic stages. Australia edged out England by seven runs at the Eden Gardens — the genesis of its subsequent triumphs.

Australia flopped in '92, but made the final of the '96 edition, where it was outthought by Sri Lanka.

It has been Australia ever since. In 1999, the side's resilience after the early setbacks, skipper Steve Waugh's resolve, Glenn McGrath's precision and Shane Warne's spin and bounce, carried the day.

In South Africa four years hence, Adam Gilchrist made a mockery of the inner ring, skipper Ricky Ponting sizzled, and Andrew Symonds revelled in crisis. McGrath's seam and bounce and Brett Lee's reverse swing enabled the side retain its title.

Fielding, depth in reserve talent and the ability to play the crucial moments well have also been crucial to Australia's triumphs.

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