The Knights of Wellington

As I write this, it is less than 24 hours remaining for the finale of cricket World Cup 2015 to start. Both the host nations will fight it out at the imposing arena of Melbourne Cricket Ground to lay their hands on the ultimate prize of cricketing world. Four time world champion Australia are well-known to such high-stake encounters. We know their at times abrasive style of play and it has not changed too much in 2015 as well. They have played hard, sledged, demolished opponents to their road to finals. But, I don’t want to talk about them today. I want to talk about their challengers, the blackcaps from New Zealand.

Playing with a smile

For years now, teams from New Zealand were labelled dark horses in almost every ICC tournament that exists. They made it to six Semi finals before this edition and every time it was considered as “punching more than their weight”. This time though, it was different. In the last year and a half, New Zealand beat Pakistan in UAE where Aussies got whitewashed. They defeated India and Sri Lanka comfortably at home. The momentum was there. Home grounds were getting ready for cricket’s biggest spectacle. Can they do it this time? Whispers started gaining strength by the time 14^th February approached.

On a sunny day at Christchurch, New Zealand blasted their way to 331 and won the match comfortably against Sri Lanka. Scotland took their catches gleefully but the kiwis got past them too. Then they arrived at Wellington or the “Cake tin” as they call it to face the Englishmen. It was considered a kind of test for kiwis as they were all over the Lankans for past two months and Scotts were never really a challenge. But it turned out to be a spectacular demolition job by Tim Southee. Old-fashioned swing bowling backed up by an aggressive captain. A captain who said we won’t sledge. It seemed too unreal in today’s time where sledging is considered a tactic. Southee initiated the demolition job which was completed by Brendon McCullum’s blade swinging like a sword. Any doubts on it being an aberration were put to rest against Australia in Auckland. Unlike the English, Aussies came hard at New Zealand. Tim Southee bled runs earning no initial wickets. The sky was clear blue with sun baking down on the brownish strip reducing hopes of swing by every over. Then came Trent Boult. 5 overs, 2 maidens, 4 runs, 5 wickets. One of the finest spells of World cup ended and so did any doubts over questions of over reliance on Southee. This is a team of fighters, if one bleeds, others will stand up. Aussies being the fighters they themselves are took the match to the end. 1 wicket to go, 6 runs to get; time for another kiwi to stand-up. Kane Williamson calmly lofted Pat Cummins for a six and sealed the match. 

B'Mac's captainship has taken a flight

After that, the Spirited Afghans were beaten easily. By this time New Zealand was already in the Quarter finals. Last league game against Bangladesh needed another whole hearted effort. In a tussle that threatened to topple the kiwi apple-cart, Martin Guptill finally came out of his slumber. His fine century took it down to 17 of 13 with 3 bowlers to bat. Still anyone’s game. One decisive moment can turn the match. And it came from the old guard of New Zealand. Daniel  Vettori effortlessly sent a Nasir Hossain delivery over extra-cover for a six effectively sealing the match. Yet again, a new face stood up for the team.

Semi-final against South Africa was an epitome of competitive spirit. Both the teams exchanged punches and counter-punches. After initial hiccups, the Proteas settled into a rhythm. Faf du’plessis was joined by the maverick AB De’villiers and the carnage begun. They attacked kiwi bowlers with intensity. Pure old-fashioned aggression of McCullum meant their fifth bowler had to bowl half the overs in last 12. Rain gods intervened briefly and the match was reduced to 43 overs per side. Still half the overs had to be bowled by New Zealand’s fifth bowler. Apprehensions took shape of reality when David Miller and De Villiers plundered their way to 281 which rose to 298 of 43 overs after Duckworth-Lewis adjustments. The kiwi fort was under real threat. Questions were raised if McCullum was over aggressive in using up his frontline bowlers too soon? Was he overconfident? Or was he simply not shrewd enough to play the games of manipulation? And finally, did the purist approach, almost old war type approach of single minded aggression with no sledging failing for New Zealand? All these questions started fading away in 5 overs of New Zealand batting. McCullum’s blade swung again and kiwis rose to 71 in no time. The “play with honour” sense was back. Wickets kept tumbling, target approached near. But all of the known match winners were back in the hut for final leg. Who can do it now? Again a new face emerged, a brown bearded face looking as calm as ever. Grant Elliot finally arrived to win the battle for his team and left South Africans in tears.

This team from New Zealand has played with honour. They have stood-up for each other. When a leading man was stopped, an unknown one emerged from the woods for that defining assault. They are lead by a captain who has hardly opened his mouth on the field just as his bat made deafening noise for the bowlers at receiving end. Now they are heading to the alien land of the tough warriors. Straight into their imposing den called the MCG. Would they conquer that land will be seen tomorrow. But they surely will give us the joy of witnessing raw aggression, passion and courage; all the while respecting the opponent. It will be the final act on this grand stage from the Knights of Wellington...

Shift in Performances in World Cups

As I am writing this on a spring evening, Zimbabwe fell just 5 short of chasing 332 against associates Ireland in ongoing world cup at Hobart. Instead of “What a chase”, we tend to say “Just fell Short” nowadays when 300 on the board have become as common as spotting an Indian during India’s match anywhere on this planet. This has been a world cup of 300’s till now. Somewhere some ex-cricketer turned commentator said it aptly, “300 is the new 250 now”. It surely has become just that. 

My first vague memories of Cricket world cup was 1996 when I was beginning to develop greater interest in the game keeping alive the Indian “middle-class” tradition. One of the stronger memories of a world cup was the unfortunate semi-final against SriLanka at Eden Gardens that left Vinod Kambli crying and around 1 lakh Bengalis throwing stuff around. I remember the excitement when Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana fell in the first over. But Aravinda De’Silva in the form of his life scored a brilliant half century to give India a target of 250 odd runs. Almost every friend of dad was tensed because “250 is a big score”. Yes, 250 was a big score once upon a time in world cups.

I chose this topic of changes in performance for this blog is because the shift has been gigantic. Bigger bats, ICC’s decision of allowing only 4 fielders outside the circle and general nature of pitches going dry and flat over the globe has contributed to this shift. For people of my generation, the 90’s kids, it seems more like cricket tuning to speed of our lives as we grow up! Those were the lazy childhood days of ample time to see Tendulkar getting set, Dravid tiring down the bowlers and praying India would reach 260 at the end with some hitting. All this while spending whole day lying on the floor without the rush of million homework that today’s school kid have to face. Life has changed for us since then with rarely anytime to watch a full ODI. A Batsman getting set on the crease with classy defence doesn’t catch our eye anymore. We need more and we need it at a speed. 250 is too low a score now. It does not give us many sights of balls flying all over the park.

ICC thankfully has understood this changing demand of our life on fast lane (pun intended!). Only 4 fielders are allowed outside the 30 yard circle and the batsmen love it. Bats are becoming broader and broader to combine with broader muscles of today’s gym-trained batters. Our lives have become faster and so has the game. Batsmen nowadays don’t believe in tiring down the bowler but hitting him out of the attack. The general increase of love for more output at faster speed is reflected in cricket too. Nowhere has this change been as evident as in the World cups over the years. From a meagre total of 183 being defended to a total of 270+ being chased easily we have seen this jump.

In this world cup only we have witnessed two totals of 400+ and a 372. They feature in the list of top 5-6 team totals in all world cups. All made in 10 days span. So performances have increased at a great speed from world cup to world cup. It reflects the overall change around us in day to day life. While we enjoy the slam-bang cricket, somewhere the thrill of small total is diminishing. But then till the time game remains enjoyable, we are not complaining!