WORLD CUP FINAL Thread

[Kristin5]

Ok, it's AUSTRALIA v INDIA in the final of the World Cup to be held on Sunday night.

What are our chances?

Obviously a key is getting Tendulkar out fairly early - can this be done? With the current form of Lee and Bichel, I think it'll be a walk in the park. Now we just have to get our batting in order cos lately the top order has been a bit of a disappointment.

Oh, and the big question: Who will JLC be barracking for? lol

[Donny]

The Aussies do not over-rate Tendulkar as some others are prone to do. They rate him highly but he's really just another wicket they have to get or restrict if he gets through the early overs.

Sehwag, Ganguly, Kaif and Dravid are all dangerous batsmen. they'll be taken one at a time.

Should be a great final!

[MrsTarrant]

Well said Kristin! I think we all know who JLC will be going for and it definately won't be Australia! I can't wait to watch this game it's going to be bloody fantastic! GO AUSTRALIA!

[Pies Premiers 2003]

Aussies will win......tendulkar will go bursurk.....but it wont be enough

Hopefully its a better WC final then the last one.....

[Donny]

Congratulations to Ian Harvey, Andy Bichel and Andrew Symonds. They will all play for Australia in a World Cup final!

When the squad was picked, Harvey wasn't in it, Bic was just cover for the pace trio and Symmo, well he only went as a 12th. man. We all know that don't we, JLC. Lol.

[JLC]

Make your middlename Hindsight........Symonds even by his own addmission was lucky. Finally he repaid the selectors faith in him. If it wasnt for injury Symonds would have been the 12th man as everyones favourite WATSON would have been in the team.

Surely Martyn will be fit for the final ??

jlc

[Special Delivery]

Righteo JLC my little Indian friend.

Let's have a go.

Who will have the greater impact in the game?

Tendulkar or Bevan. What runs will they get each huh? Oh and remember-Tendulkar will most likely have the opportunity to face alot more balls than Bev as he is higher up the order.

Hopefully Bevan won't have to go out onto the pitch.

At the end of the game-I just don't want to hear....

'do you JLC, take Sachin to be your lawful wedded husb...'

Heh.

[MrsTarrant]

LoL this will be good!

[JLC]

Well thats a pretty simple question. India have a greater reliance on Tendulkar to perform. Australia can win even if Bevan didn't play. If Tendulkar goes out cheaply India are unlikely to win.

Therefore Tendulkar has the biggest impact on the game.

jlc

[Donny]

India look back 20 years for final inspiration
Reuters - 21 March 2003

India will look back 20 years rather than five weeks for inspiration as they prepare to meet Australia in Sunday's World Cup final.

Kapil Dev's India lifted the 1983 trophy with a shock victory over West Indies and Sourav Ganguly's team will face a challenge of similar proportions against the world champions at The Wanderers.

Woefully out of form arriving in South Africa, India have regrouped impressively to win nine of their 10 games but victory in Sunday remains mission improbable.

That one first-round defeat was by nine wickets against Ricky Ponting's unbeaten side, who routed them for their lowest World Cup total of 125.

India's traditional weakness against pace was harshly exposed by Brett Lee in particular, but Ganguly is determined not to look back at that result at Centurion on February 15.

"We are in the final and playing as well as anybody," he said as he sidestepped questions about Lee. "We will see what happens."

India, however, who will be cheered on by Kapil Dev who has flown in to South Africa with thousand of other supporters, have genuine reasons for optimism.

Sachin Tendulkar, in sublime form, has almost single-handedly carried the team's batting, amassing a record 669 runs from 10 innings after being promoted to open at the World Cup.

His personal duel with Lee and Glenn McGrath will be one to relish.

In 10 innings, Tendulkar had passed 50 seven times, making one century. There was a riveting 98 against Pakistan and 97 against Sri Lanka.

He also batted beautifully for 36 against Australia before Jason Gillespie, now back home with a heel injury, fooled him with a slower ball.

India's campaign, however, has also been marked by the fine efforts of pace trio Javagal Srinath and left-armers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra.

The 33-year-old Srinath has returned from retirement to fire his younger team mates. The three have shared 49 wickets, Khan leading with 18 victims. None of the three has gone for more than four runs an over. All three have taken their wickets at under 20 apiece.

Ganguly, reflecting on their contribution, said: "Every team has a bit of weakness. Australia's top-order has been scoring heavily in the last six months. If you can get through them early, you might expose the middle order."

He hoped the pressure might also tell on Australia.

"It is a World Cup final and pressure is always going to be a factor," he said. "They are world champions and they got to defend their title."

India's transformation during the tournament followed some intemperate criticism from their supporters for a subdued start in the World Cup. The homes of some players were even daubed in paint by irate fans, with the customary burning of effigies in the streets.

Those extreme reactions forced Tendulkar to issue an appeal for calm.

Ganguly, however, responded by calling on the team to look inward rather than outward for strength, an approach reflected in the close huddle the team forms with each on-field success.

The skipper had also led by example with three centuries, equalling the record for a single World Cup, including 111 not out on Thursday to guide India to a 91-run victory over Kenya in the semi-finals.

The win helped erase the disappointments of losing semi-finals in 1987 and 1996.

India look certain to stick to their strategy of using only one spinner, even if that has meant leaving out leg spinner Anil Kumble's 308-wicket experience.

[couragous cloke]

i reckon that if India bat first they will win. Watch out for the dangerous SEHWAG, everyone has there eyes on sachin but i reeckon sehwag could be the other key, ganguly is in form and dravid is a gun, but if the aussies can get early wickets the game will be over very quickly. if australia bat i think india cant win, even if australia cant make over 220 i think india cant chase, esspecially against aussies. also indias bowlers appear to be in form but we dont know what form there in against the might of adam gilchrist and matt haydnen and lets not forget ponting (whos due) and the dangerous symonds

[JLC]

India have a pretty good record when chasing. Don't they hold the world recrod for a run chase ?? Or they would be pretty close ??

Personally i think the key is for Tendulkar and Sherwag to try and see off Lee and McGraths spell with minimal damage.

Then make runs against the other bowlers with Ganguly coming in when the spinners are bowling.

Indias pace attack is very under rated. It has two left handers who have really stepped up. I always knew Zaheer Kahn was a good bowler. The one that suprised me was Nehra who has done exceptionally well. Javagal Srinath is a workhorse who has carried that pace attack for years. He would have to be one of my favourite bowlers because of his positive attitude and how he goes about his game.

Personally the two key Australian wickets to get are Gilchrist and Symonds as they hurt you the most as they score so quickly. Having Gilchrist or Symonds out there will hurt you a lot more than having Bevan and Martyn out in the middle. They are two of the more aggressive batsman and can hit bowlers out of the attack.

It is also interesting to note that India have pretty much stuck by the same 12 players each game as Ganguly doesnt like to change things much.

Hopefully it will be a good game and the Indians can provide a good contest.

jlc

[Special Delivery]

Bevan 35 not out.

Tendulkar 11 caught behind.

Hmmm.

[gobbles21]

[Donny]

IT'S ON !!

Ganguly wins the toss and decides to bowl.

Australia 0/15 after the first over from Khan. 8 extras.