CWC Report Card for India
By Indian Cricket Fever - 24 March 2003
March 25 2003
An evaluation of India's performance in the course of the 2003 World Cup as well as in the final, based on a consensus of Indian and Australian fans.
A consensus evaluation of the Indian performance, from India as well as Australia fans, after the 2003 CWC final yesterday.
Indian point of view
- Australia deserved to win: They earned the "champion" tag. They batted excellently and fielded outstandingly yesterday. They outclassed all other teams during the tournament.
- Real difference between the teams: Not as great as the scorecard indicated.
- India choked at the final step: The old finals voodoo, forgotten after last year, returned.
- Dominance: India thrashed every other team, but were thrashed both times they played Australia.
- Peaking: It was India's worst day at the office in the entire tournament. It was also Australia's best day.
- Bowling: Decision to bowl was correct on a pitch moist due to overnight rain that had something in it for bowlers early. But nervous, excited quickies surrendered the initiative: wides, no-balls, full-tosses, absence of line and length, absence of yorkers and bouncers, showed up in abundance. Our highly acclaimed pace trio were underachievers yesterday.
- Batting: Gave us hope for a while, even in an impossible situation. Aussies bowlers McGrath, Lee, Bichel didn't look particularly threatening throughout India's innings.
- Sachin Tendulkar: A true champion, the proven best. Played a huge role getting us to the final in the first place. His strategy was over-aggresion right from the start (as in the game against Pak) -- there was no other choice with an impossible ask against a top team, and one can't expect miracles from him all the time.
- Sourav Ganguly: Led impressively through most of the tournament, but handling of bowlers was poor in the final game.
- Experience: Gave Australia an edge. India's average age of 23 vs the Aussie average 30 made a difference. Experience in South African conditions, similar to Aussie conditions, helped. Experience in entering WC final third successive time helped.
- Typical Aussie strengths: Professionalism, mental toughness, brutal confidence, ability to identify and attack weaknesses, and work ethic made all the difference in the end.
- Overall performance by India: Great performance from the Indians in this World Cup. Were not expected to make the finals, but other than Australia no team looked even close to India in any of the games played.
- Track record: Fantastic year for Indian cricket home and away: World Cup in SA - ICC Champions Trophy in Lanka - Natwest triangular in England - ODI series win in the Windies - best ODI record of any world team in 2002.
- The team: Best India team seen in a long time. Balanced batting and bowling (pace and spin) strengths for all conditions. Nimble fielding, a couple of the world's best in Yuvraj and Kaif. Strong team spirit; great leadership; excellent support staff.
- Progress of fast bowlers: The trio of fast bowlers Nehra, Zaheer, Srinath gained a reputation as one of the best pace attacks. All 3 are in the top 10 in the World Cup, and acknowledged as a big factor in why India got to the final.
- Future: Not only is the current team young, but there are some very good prospects in the wings knocking on the selector's doors: classy young batsmen as well as fast bowling prospects. India is an emerging powerhouse and can strive to replace Australia at the top.
Drawn from comments by: Beamer, Max1, Gullu, RL, Satz, Gambit, India_raising, Aditi, Gaurang, Farky stan, Amit, Anil, Dhiresh, (among others).
Australian point of view
- India is second best: But a distant second. Australia is on a level of its own.
- Two losses is no coincidence: India suffered heavy defeats against Aus twice in this World Cup.
- 8 wins not an accident either: The 8 wins in a row show that India dominated the rest of the sides, and deserve their second spot.
- Australia won without Gillespie and Warne: Take out 2 world class players, and Aus still won all their games convincingly.
- India can learn from experience: Has a young team, this was a good learning curve, in a few years India could be the best around.
Drawn from comments by: Bradmania, Australiarules, Debesh, Fanjio, Anisha, Sonel, Legbreak (among others).