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| ‘The earlier loss to the West Indies was a wake-up call for us. Now we are ready to take them on’ – Brett Lee © Getty Images |
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Once they reach finals, Australia don’t usually lose them, and West Indieswill have to be at their mercurial best to have any chance of upsettingthe odds on Sunday. Recent triumphs in Malaysia and the group phase ofthis tournament have shown that Brian Lara’s team are probably bestequipped to upset Australia’s meticulous plans, but with a rejuvenatedGlenn McGrath leading an imposing five-man pace attack, their task hasbecome that much more difficult.For many of those watching on Sunday, this will be a resumption ofcricket’s quintessential contest. Somewhere between Sir Frank Worrell’sfeted team winning Australian hearts in 1960-61 and the 5-0 annihilationat Australian hands in 2000-01, the contests between West Indies andAustralia replaced the Ashes as cricket’s pre-eminent rivalry. In the wakeof West Indies’ decline in the latter half of the 1990s, South Africabriefly threatened to be the team to push Australia hardest, a mantlesince usurped by India and England. But for most Australians of McGrath’sgeneration, there was only one team that set the standard, and that wasn’tthe Poms.To be fair to the modern generation, West Indies had been in decline as aone-day team even in Viv Richards’ time, failing to reach the final stagesof the World Cup in 1987 and again in ’92, and the recent resurgence mustbe seen in that light. But for Australians who grew up watching hideousbeatings at the hands of the men in maroon – or grayish purple as it wasin those World Series days – these matches continue to have a specialresonance.Australia have experienced a few wobbles since retaining the World Cup in2003, but the present combination, with Shane Watson proving a genuinefifth pace-bowling option, is the best that they have managed to come upwith since some indifferent performances on the tour of England lastsummer, when matches were surrendered against lowly England andBangladesh.Watson still needs more weight of runs to convince people that he’s theideal foil for Adam Gilchrist. The pressure on him has been relieved to alarge extent by those down the order, with Damien Martyn in sparklingform, and Ricky Ponting back to the old run-glut after a handful offorgettable outings. Andrew Symonds showed what he could do in toughbatting conditions in the semi-final, while both Michaels, Hussey andClarke, have started the season with fine knocks. It will need incisivespells from Ian Bradshaw and Jerome Taylor, and miserly ones from ChrisGayle and Marlon Samuels just to keep them in check. Early wickets brokethe game open for West Indies in the group encounter, despite Gilchrist’ssuperb 92, and they’ll need to reprise that bowling to stand any chance.If there is confusion in Australian ranks, it’s over the fifth bowlingoption. The surface at the Brabourne Stadium turned appreciably in theearly games, and though Brad Hogg bowled only three overs in the lastmeeting between the two sides, he could well be asked to fill in foreither Nathan Bracken or Mitchell Johnson. Given that Bracken has beenAustralia’s leading wicket-taker this year, and given that Johnson hasalready dismissed Lara (twice), Tendulkar and Pietersen in the course of afledgling career, it’s hard to see that happening. In all likelihood,Symonds will bowl a few overs of spin, with Clarke likely to turn his armover if needed.The match could be won and lost long before the spinners come on though.Chris Gayle’s irresistible run of form has been instrumental in WestIndies’ progress, but the new-ball pairing of McGrath and Brett Lee willoffer the sternest possible examination. “A lot has been said aboutAustralia’s track record in the Champions Trophy,” said a determined Leeon the eve of the final. “This time, we’re really determined to make amark. The earlier loss to the West Indies was a wake-up call for us. Nowwe are ready to take them on.”They’ll have to do it while cast as Goliath. David Boon, here in hiscapacity as a selector, spoke fondly last week of the Reliance World Cupfinal in 1987, when “hundreds of thousands seemed to be barracking for usagainst the Poms”. Come Sunday though, the vast majority in the stands atthis storied venue will be cheering for the underdog. The reception thatLara received in the previous game here was electrifying, especially giventhe sparse numbers in attendance. If the crowd delivers an encore, andLara does too, David’s catapult and stones may well be enough to retainthe trophy. But with the Champions Trophy missing from the trophycupboard, this is one battle that Goliath won’t want to lose, and ifMcGrath, who grew up yearning to emulate some West Indian pace legends,has his way, the Brabourne won’t see a giant-killing.
