Australia's best CWC performance?

Sport360 staff 09:35 30/03/2015
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  • Our #360debate today is: Was this Australia's best World Cup performance?

    The Cricket World Cup came to an end this past weekend with a devastating display of pace bowling from Australia to deservedly win the title for a fifth time.

    With such an impressive record in World Cups, the world-beating Australian teams make an interesting comparison next to eachother.

    Our #360debate today is: Was this Australia’s best World Cup performance?

    Ajit Vijaykumar, Assistant News Editor, thinks YES

    The best two teams in the World Cup clashed in what was expected to be a blockbuster final. Australia had one of the strongest teams in the event but the Kiwis were the most exciting, playing without any fear.

    Fans were hoping for an epic encounter between the co-hosts, but what they got was a walk in the park by Michael Clarke’s side as the Aussies lifted their fifth World Cup title.

    While it was not the most memorable of World Cup finals, it was the best performance by the Aussies at the showpiece event. Now I know the teams of 2003 and 2007 World Cup did not lose a single match on their way to the title.

    They had the likes of Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden and formed one of the greatest ever teams to walk the planet.

    But they were almost expected to win, with their opponents looking to first make a match out of it. But this Australian side entered the tournament with some big question marks over team harmony and the form of its players.

    Australian legends Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne brought took 2003 World Cup home.

    Captain Michael Clarke was involved in a protracted fight to prove his fitness, with Cricket Australia losing its patience. The rise of Steven Smith added to the pressure on Clarke and it was widely felt manthe team was better off without the distraction of Clarke.

    Then there was a dip in form of left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, who couldn’t quite get going against India in the preceding Test series. George Bailey was shown the door as soon as Clarke regained fitness and their batting looked vulnerable.

    Plus, they didn’t have a single spinner of repute. But in the tournament, Smith and Glenn Maxwell scored the big knocks just when the team needed them. In bowling, Mitchell Starc was so good, Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner simply had to keep things quiet.

    The Aussies struck the big blows at the right time throughout the tournament, with bat and ball. This was not the greatest Australian ODI team, nor did they enter the tournament on top of their game. Therefore, this stupendous win has to rank as the best among their five victorious campaigns.

    Jaideep Marar, Assistant Editor, thinks NO

    Australia’s domination in World Cups is indeed incredible but where would they be if not for their first success in 1987? In none of their other triumphs that followed did they need to scrap as hard as in India, 28 years ago.

    Right from their first match, a one-run victory against defending champions India, until the final which they won by seven runs against England, Allan Border’s men’s tenacity and defiance stood out.

    The 1987 triumph has a huge significance in Australian cricket as it marked their ascendancy in the sport and to their credit they have rarely faltered as the four World Cup titles prove.

    Border’s bunch were rank outsiders in 1987 but they gained confidence and strength with every victory setting up the finale against old foes England.

    It was not an easy path though as they were made to sweat in almost every match. Barring the games against Zimbabwe, which they won by 96 runs and 70 runs, the rest all were close affairs – New Zealand (won by 3 runs and 17 runs), India (won by 1 run and lost by 56 runs, their only defeat in the tournament) and the semi-final against, Pakistan (won by 18 runs).

    There were hardly any big names in the squad with Border, the only star. But his captaincy and manager Bobby Simpson’s backroom guidance were a huge influence in shaping the team’s fortunes.

    Australia’s success was built on the strong opening displays of David Boon (447 runs) and Geoff Marsh (428), No3 Dean Jones (314) and the brilliance of fast bowler Craig McDermott, the tournament’s top bowler with 18 wickets.

    The final was another cracker with England almost cruising along in chase of a formidable target of 253 before a rash reverse sweep by Mike Gatting off Border’s left-arm spin triggered a turnaound.

    A 22-year-old Steve Waugh stamped his presence with a brilliant run out (Bill Athey) and came good with his medium-pace dismissing Allan Lamb before conceding just two runs in the penultimate over of the match. For the way they fought in every match, including the final, Australia’s 1987 success remains the finest.

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