By Sir Richard Hadlee
Firstly, let me admit I would have loved to play under a Captain as inspirational as Brendon McCullum.He, with the help of a very efficient Management team has scripted perhaps the most magical moment in New Zealand cricket. The players adore him. They follow him. He bats magnificently and employs an attacking field I had not seen before .Four slips and a gullie. But that is Brendon MccCullum for you! An aggressive winner! It is not even an hour after the match as I sit down to write this. And frankly, I am still overwhelmed. The hang over doesn’t seem to go away .I , in my long experience of watching and playing international cricket in New Zealand, have never ever come across a crowd like what I saw at today’s Eden Park. The match was as dramatic as you could hope to get. And the crowd matched that drama. They were colourful, involved and whatever be the state of the game remained high on energy. It was indeed a magic moment for us which brought tears of joy in the New Zealand dressing room. And tears of despair in our worthy opponents. I thought, New Zealand deserved to win. They were more efficient. More hungry. More ruthless. Someone asked me after the match if I thought Man of the match was the right choice? Whether it could have been given to McCullum for providing that flying start? My answer is No. Elliot is the right choice as he, more than anyone else showed great character in adversity. The way he build his innings, found the gaps carefully and finally hit the big shot was sensational. End of the day his six was the difference between the teams. That decided the fate of the match. Undoubtedly, today’s was the Match of the tournament, And to have kept his cool during the most vital period in such a match, Elliot deserves the Man of the Match award more than anyone else. Grant Elliot, incidentally, is a South African born in Johannesburg. For him to have hit the winning run against South Africa was bit of a contradiction. But then we, New Zealanders are certainly not complaining. I feel sorry for South Africa. After this loss the Choker tag will continue to haunt them. Though I can say this with utmost conviction that they didn’t choke today’s Semi Final. South Africans fought with courage and passion. But for couple of missed chances on the field they were awesome! If I were Gary Kirsten or part of their Management team it would have been difficult for me to console them. Remmber, all other teams in this world Cup are simply playing to win the trophy. South Africans were playing to make a difference in their country. Thus apart from trying to win a cricket game they had different kinds of pressure. It is quite admirable the manner in which they fought. Before the start of the tournament I actually felt this was the team which was going to go all the way. For me it was the best side in the competition. But they flattered to deceive.Steyn’s fitness in this important match was a major issue. And the lack of a Fifth bowler continued to hurt them. Now they have to start all over again for England, 2019.That won’t be easy at all. Coming back to New Zealand, we are now just one game away from winning the title. Across the Tasman Sea things will no longer be the same. If we play Australia in the final at the MCG, there will be a very hostile crowd awaiting to unsettle us.
This cauldron of ninety thousand people will be a real threat as our players are not experienced enough to play before a crowd as large as that of MCG. Again, we have won eight games in a row and showed such character that the World Cup is surely not beyond us. But keeping the hostile crowd element in perspective we would love to play India in the final. Not Australia.That is what my heart dictates. The mind says something else. That Australia in the Sydney Semi Final are the clear favourites. Yes India has got better and better in the tournament. Also they have the game to match their illustrious opponents step by step.
But to get past Michael Clarke’s team they will have to handle the new ball particularly well. And that means handling one Mitchell Starc. If they manage to do that and post a total of 300 plus, an Indian win can’t be completely ruled out. However, they have to take all their chances. India can’t afford to make too many mistakes against the mighty Australian team. India surely will look forward to tears of joy not sorrow on Thursday at the SCG. As I said earlier will wait for India at Melbourne.