By Sir Richard Hadlee
The thought of India playing Pakistan in a World Cup match conjures up so many scenarios. They are rare contests these days but the mind boggles with the talent that is on show from both teams. The team who loses faces the ire of their fans and potentially their country including politicians. There is so much at stake – both teams will have a fierce desire to win.
Neither team will want to face the embarrassment of losing, yet there is no disgrace in losing provided players have given their best and tried to win. Sport is about winning and losing – sometimes the margin of error is so small and all it takes is one big play with bat or ball or a superb piece of fielding that can determine the final result.
I get the feeling that while cricket is a sport and this World Cup match is important for both teams there is more to this game than winning – it is the pride of a nation, the honour and glory of being victorious. I sense that both teams have mutual respect for each other as cricketers – some will be friends. It will be a very competitive encounter and I am hopeful that it will played within the spirit of the game, which must prevail at all times.
It does not matter how many previous encounters there have been between the two countries or who have the won most matches – it is the performance on the day that counts. This game is also about getting 2 crucial points to help qualify for the quarter finals. Winning this match gets the team off to a good start and allows them gather momentum that builds confidence. Losing this match also means the team is chasing the pack – three teams in each group of seven will miss out on qualifying for the finals. Winning points are extremely valuable especially in the early stages of the tournament. The rivalry between the two teams will be powerful motivation for all concerned. While it is one country verses another, it is also the one on battles that will attract a lot of interest. The contest of the game is between bat and ball but it is also the match ups between the players on opposing sides – Virat Kohli verses Younus Khan, Rohit Sharma verses Shezhad, Raina verses Afridi and so on.
Players want to out-perform and out-skill each other. Egos play an important part in wanting to be better than someone else. Personal ratings and the satisfaction of being rated higher than other players can drive performance. I understand this because I was driven by goals and targets. I was motivated by many different things and one of them was personal statistics. That helped me get focused on the performances I wanted. If I was getting wickets that helped the team, I was doing my job. If I wasn’t getting wickets or bowling badly it created a lot more pressure to turn my form around. The pressure from the media, crowds, and fans made me very aware that I had little time to get it right. This can affect player greatly. Either a player responds to the challenge to prove a point or he doesn’t and then gets dropped.
A lot of nervous energy will be spent before the game commences by the players, management and support staff. Everyone will do some soul searching to ensure the team and individual players have prepared well. Questions will also be asked as to whether anything could have been done better? Swirling in the heads of everyone involved will be thoughts of success but if anyone makes a mistake there will be possible failure as a result – these are tense times for the players.
This is when mental toughness plays a big part in a game of this importance – to overcome the obstacles and produce a match winning performance or when in control of the match not allowing the opposition back into the game. This will be a pressure match at its very best and one to enjoy as a spectator. Everyone who follows cricket will know how important this match is to both countries – it means everything.
India go into this match lacking form with no wins except a World Cup practice match win during the last two months on Australian soil. Confidence may be low but this is a World Cup – India are defending champions. Every player and every team enters this competition with no points, no runs and no wickets. It is an even playing field. What has gone on before does not matter anymore. Now is the time to make amends and perform. It is time to become a hero and announce yourself on a world stage and enhance your rating as a player.
India has so many match winners – the batting is extremely strong – it is just as good as any other team in the tournament. Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli, Rahane, Raina, Dhoni are formidable batsmen with proven records who should produce plenty of runs. The big problem for India is whether their bowlers in Australian conditions are consistent and good enough to hit the lines and lengths that are necessary and get batsmen out. It has been a struggle in recent times.
Pakistan’s recent form is also underwhelming – only 2 wins in their last 12 one dayers. They have lost several key players to injury and with Saeed Ajmal suspended with a suspect bowling action – this is a major blow as he is one of the world’s premiere bowlers and match winners. For Pakistan to win this match Shahid Afridi is a key player – he is on the verge of being the first player to take 400 one day wickets and score 8000 runs – he is truly a remarkable performer and a match winner. His fast leg breaks and googly’s have got many quality batsmen out – his power hitting can turn and win a match in a matter of overs. He is one of the biggest threats to any opposing team and a great entertainer who enjoys the limelight – a World Cup is his stage to perform.
The Adelaide Oval was a picturesque ground – with its new grandstands it is now a magnificent stadium for cricket. The stage is set for a full house and plenty of noise with patriotic fans there to will and cheer their teams and heroes on. Despite their recent form India are favourites to win this much awaited contest.