For a side that has finished second-best on numerous occasions, England looked completely in control as they won their first ever ICC World title after having finished second-best in 1979, 1987, 1992 (limited overs World Cups) and was stunned in the 2004 Champions Trophy final. The win will be much sweeter for the Poms as they thumped arch-rivals Australians in a grossly one-sided final witnessed in a long time. It also ended Australia’s enviable record of having not lost an ICC event final in 14 years (the last being the 50-over World Cup final loss to Sri Lanka in 1996).
Chasing a modest total of 148, England rode on Craig Kieswetter’s 63 and Kevin ‘I have found my touch’ Pietersen to seal a memorable win.
With this fantastic win, Paul Collingwood joins the ranks of Bobby Moore (football) and Martin Johnson (rugby) in captaining England to a world title in sports. An achievement in itself, indeed.
What made this win possible?
- Not overawed by the situation: Most of the teams lose the battle even before they enter the ring as they are overawed by the big game. The Andy Flower coached English side were able to conquer the final blues and for once, Australia was on the back foot straight away. Collingwood called correctly and never let the guard down and kept the Aussies on the backfoot.
- The lesser said about the importance of all-rounders in this format of the game, the better. Tim Bresnan, Craig Kieswetter, Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad and the list goes on. This humongous amount of all-rounders has bailed the team out on most occasions. 1983 Indian side boasted of players in the form of Mohinder Amarnath, Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, Roger Binny who did the same and how. It’s time other teams armed the all-rounders element into them as they will come handy in any format of the game.
- Again, taking all chances that come by. Not one run-out was missed and ground fielding was up to the mark. The sub-continent teams such as India need a lesson or two in this.
- Matching your opponent shot to shot. England have never been known to give it back as good as they get. While brilliant individual stars such as Bob Willis, David Gower, and Geoffrey Boycott have played for the Three Lions, the fact remains that this side have never made a collective effort to conquer the Worlds. But Collingwood’s men have changed the trend and how!
- Champion sides prefer to play long periods of outstanding cricket and never let the opposition crawl their way back. Now, this is an art which has been mastered by the West Indies’ team of the 70s and 80s and Australians in the last one decade. England, for a change, seems to have stolen the mantra and the change in their fortunes is a proof of that.
If Boycott had to give a commentary on Australia’s indifferent show on Sunday night, he would have said, “Oh! My grandmother would have played better than that.” What say Boycs….
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
they have always been a good team. somehow always under-performed. finally win something..
I think they are performing as a unit which is what any format of cricket requires and what better than winning the Worlds to prove a point!