Head's Heroics: Australia's Supreme Reign Against India Persists

Khaleej Times

Australia defeated India in yet another World Cup final in style. Travis Head once again proves to be the nemesis-in-chief for the Men in Blue

Transcript

00:00 Hi, I am Ayaz Memon with the World Cup Update.

00:02 We've had the final, we've had a winner, we've had a loser.

00:06 Unfortunately for India, they ended up

00:08 on the wrong side of the contest.

00:10 Australia was just too good on the day, in batting, in bowling,

00:13 and certainly in fielding.

00:16 India's dream run suggested that if they don't win the title,

00:20 at least they'll put up a really stiff fight.

00:22 It didn't happen.

00:23 Such matches, the finals and stuff,

00:26 or really important matches, are won on moments of magic

00:29 or tenacity, deep resilience.

00:32 India lacked both.

00:34 I mean, I can just give you an example.

00:36 For instance, the 1983 World Cup, which India won.

00:38 Moment of magic, or moments of magic.

00:40 Sandhu getting Gordon Greenwich bowled with a banana

00:43 in swing.

00:43 A couple of days taking that magnificent catch

00:46 to dismiss Bill Richards.

00:47 And the defense of a very moderate score, modest score

00:50 of 183, became possible.

00:53 And before that, of course, the tenacity, resilience,

00:57 and the determination and grit of Kapil Dev in making 175

01:00 not out against Zimbabwe, which got India into the final

01:05 in many ways, showed how these things work out.

01:09 1992 World Cup final, which Pakistan won.

01:12 The team had struggled right through.

01:13 Tenacity, determination, never say die spirit.

01:17 And in the final, Wasim Akram gets those two wickets

01:20 of two successive deliveries.

01:22 And the final swings their way.

01:24 Australia had those moments.

01:26 India didn't at Ahmedabad.

01:28 In the final, Travis Head's catch

01:31 to dismiss Rohit Sharma in many ways for me

01:35 became the defining moment of the match.

01:38 I mean, it was a spectacular catch.

01:40 It was a catch which turned the match, the trend of play

01:44 around completely.

01:44 Because Rohit was going great guns.

01:47 And remember the kind of devastating form

01:48 that Rohit has been in.

01:50 He could have just run away with the match.

01:51 Running back 15, 20 yards, seeing the ball over his head,

01:55 driving full length forward and taking the catch was--

01:59 I mean, it was incredible, to say the least.

02:03 But he wasn't done yet.

02:05 When Australia were batting and chasing 241, modest score,

02:09 but the pitch wasn't as conducive for batting

02:11 as many would have thought, Travis Head

02:16 goes and makes a spankingly good hundred.

02:18 Now, he's got something.

02:19 He's become India's nemesis in chief.

02:21 Remember, in the World Cup Test Championship final

02:23 at the Oval some months back, he was the guy who came out

02:27 and played a blistering knock and took the game away

02:29 from India after Australia had lost a few early wickets.

02:32 Here in this match with Manas Labhushain,

02:35 a little chancy towards the start,

02:38 and thereafter just completely dominated the Indian bowling.

02:43 Counter-attacked very sensibly.

02:45 Neither pace nor spinners could get Travis Head out.

02:50 And that really was the big difference.

02:52 Because he was the aggressor.

02:53 He was the run scorer.

02:55 Manas Labhushain, very crucial innings.

02:57 But he was the support cast.

02:59 So moments of magic in both.

03:02 In the final, came through Travis Head's brilliant catch.

03:06 And then, of course, the way he batted.

03:07 And let's not forget, I think Pat Cummins,

03:10 you have to give him credit.

03:11 Throughout the tournament, he's not taken the most wickets.

03:14 He's not been, in that sense, a dominating figure.

03:18 But in the final, his captaincy was first rate.

03:20 Remember, in earlier matches, he's

03:22 come and he's played that terrific supporting role

03:25 to Glenn Maxwell in the victory against Afghanistan.

03:28 Again, in the match against South Africa in the semifinals,

03:31 he and Stark batted Australia through to a win.

03:35 In this final, came up and picked up two wickets,

03:39 including that of Virat Kohli, who was the big threat

03:43 after Rohit had gone.

03:46 And the way he marshalled his resources, the field placing,

03:49 he just squeezed India for runs.

03:51 They just couldn't get enough runs.

03:53 40, 50 runs more could have been a difference,

03:55 could have made a difference.

03:56 But you know, ifs and buts are plentiful.

03:59 Ultimately, what matters is which team

04:01 played better on the day.

04:02 And I thought Australia were better by far.

04:05 Bad luck for India.

04:06 They've had a fantastic, memorable campaign.

04:09 I wouldn't fault the Indian team at all.

04:12 And all this criticism of Rohit Sharma

04:15 really irks me for the kind of stroke he played

04:17 and he got out.

04:18 I think he's been magnificent.

04:20 His blazing starts that he's given,

04:23 the kind of tactical acumen that he showed,

04:27 the role definition for each player,

04:29 the tempo of the campaign, the nature,

04:32 the tenor of the campaign was all, in many ways,

04:36 Rohit's doing.

04:37 And he has perhaps set a template

04:39 for how India can be more creative and stronger going

04:44 ahead in white ball cricket.

04:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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