Awesome Aussies and their relentless pursuit for excellence by Partab Ramchand

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 30th April 2007

 

The comparisons have been made for some time and they will now be intensified. Australia’s hat trick of World Cup triumphs will no doubt renew the debate as to which side is the greater – the present Aussie squad or the all conquering West Indian teams of the 70s and 80s. However awesome Clive Lloyd’s outfits were they never accomplished a hat trick of triumphs and indeed they faltered at the final hurdle when aiming for this achievement when India shocked them in the final in 1983. The comparisons have been made at both Test and ODI level and while the arguments may continue as far as the longer version of the game is concerned I think the time has come when they should cease as far as limited overs cricket is concerned. The Australians by their relentless pursuit of excellence have taken cricket to a new realm. They had a perfect played 11, won 11 record in South Africa four years ago. And as if this was not mind boggling and eye rubbing enough they have now repeated the feat in the Caribbean. And of course they have been unbeaten in the World Cup for 29 matches now dating back to England in 1999. Of these they have won 28 while one match – the famous semifinal eight years against South Africa – was tied.

 

It must also not be forgotten that the competition now is that much more intense than it was in the formative years of the World Cup. Three teams from the sub continent have won the trophy while sides like New Zealand and South Africa are opponents whom none – not even Australia - can take lightly. The fact remains that the Aussies have taken the game to a higher pane and what is even more frightening for the opponents is the coach John Buchanan’s statement that the team has not yet fully realized its potential. What more then could this amazing squad achieve?

 

The great thing about this Australian outfit is its astonishing resolve, its desire to excel. No wonder then that Steve Waugh’s book dealing with their record breaking season of 1999-2000 was titled 'Never Satisfied'. They came into the ninth edition of the World Cup looking slightly vulnerable. One by one the greats had retired. They were without an injured Brett Lee. They had endured a five game losing streak to England and New Zealand. Critics had called them `Dad’s Army’ with most of the players being over 30 and some over 35. But the Aussie bench strength is remarkable. To think that Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark hardly got a look in at the World Cup. To think that they were hardly stretched in any of the matches and they made hyped up games against New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka look like strolls in the park.

 

Overall as I said was their relentless pursuit of excellence, that insatiable hunger for success that has not diminished over the years. When it comes to the crunch or a challenging situation there was always someone who would raise his hand and be up to it. Three instances stand out among a host of outstanding contributions. Matthew Hayden, not too long ago considered too old to be a part of the one day squad finishing as the highest run getter in the competition with three hundreds including the fastest in the history of the competition; Adam Gilchrist after enduring a slump in his fortunes coming good when it mattered most – in the final; and over and above everything else Glenn McGrath, at 37 and playing his farewell tournament emerging as the Player of the Tournament complete with most number of wickets in a single World Cup and the highest wicket taker in the history of the competition. In years to come chroniclers will no doubt give this Australian team a special place in cricketing history.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 CricketArchive)