World Cup Final Nerves
Twenty two cricketers will be in their beds in Mumbai, trying to sleep before the biggest game of their lives tomorrow, the ICC Cricket World Cup Final. It is expected to be the most watched cricket match in history.
I remember spending the eve of the 2003 World Cup Final with Australia’s Michael Bevan in Johannesburg, and marvelling at the calmness and composure he and his fellow players exuded.
I watched the Indian team practice first at The Wanderers Stadium, and observed how intense the whole process was, almost as if they were trying too hard to ensure all the right details were in place, suggesting in fact that they doubted they were. In contrast, a couple of hours later, Australia had an optional practice, as they had been in a tapering phase of their World Cup campaign and preparation since before the semi final. Their belief was that their work had been done, and all they had to do was to come out on World Cup Final day and, as the Nike commercial says: ”Just do it!”.
Ricky Ponting’s Australia did, and did so emphatically, with a near-perfect performance to destroy India’s hopes.
Sometimes a team can want a victory too much. I hope India do not fall victim to this mindset tomorrow, and tense up on the big occasion, thus denying the world from seeing some of the greatest players on earth, perform near to their maximum. Sehwag and Tendulkar on fire, batting against the new ball is some sight!!
My wish is for India to triumph, with the romantic in me hoping Sachin Tendulkar can score his 100th International century, on his home turf in Mumbai to deliver the crowning moment as World Champions. It will be for the second time as a country after Kapil Dev’s team triumphed over West Indies at Lord’s in 1983, but the first time for Sachin, and his contemporaries. An Indian victory will also mean the World Cup will be won by the host nation for the first time.
For two of my friends, Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons, I hope the World Cup Final brings them the reward for all their hard work as coaches to the Indian Team over the past few years. They are very good men, with a deep love and respect for the game.
However, I have a feeling for Sri Lanka to win, and have had since before the tournament began.
Sri Lanka has a wonderful bowling attack, with the variety and skill needed to take wickets throughout an innings, and batsmen capable of playing big innings and also scoring at a quick rate.
I also have a theory about Cup Finals, which is based on tipping the team who has experienced the least stressful semi-final. I believe that any excessive emotional energy expended in getting to a Final, can seem like victory in itself. If there is insufficient time to recover physically and emotionally from a draining semi-final, a team is at risk, and can under-perform in the Final itself.
India looked overjoyed, and relieved, to make the World Cup Final after defeating Pakistan on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Captain, Kumar Sangakarra, was almost sanguine on interview after his team defeated New Zealand on Tuesday.
Sangakarra spoke with impressive calm and fierce ambition when he said that whilst they were pleased to be in the World Cup Final, they are mindful that they have achieved nothing yet. It is about winning the Final, and not appearing in it. Such realism, and sobriety, in the aftermath of being awarded Man-of-the-Match in a World Cup semi-final, revealed an impressive leader. Coupled with the quality of player alongside him in his team, Kumar Sangakarra may experience unbridled joy by the end of tomorrow’s Final.
Having lost in the last World Cup Final at Kensington Oval Bridgetwon, Barbados (2007), and in the World T20 Final at Lord’s in 2009, Sri Lanka is desperate to match the achievements of Arjuna Ranatunga’s team who won the ICC World Cup in 1996, the last on the sub-continent. My hunch is that they might just do it…
