Nottingham , June 07 2019
For the record, only on 7 occasions in their 799 ODIs before Thursday had the West Indies successfully chased a total of 289 or more.
It was a game that West Indies had to win to show that they were true contenders for the crown. It was a game you knew Australia would somehow find a way of winning to show why they are its true defenders, and have been so often. Throughout the day, the West Indians kept showing in brief bursts of just why the cricket world is awakening once more to the thought of them climbing to the top of the pile. Throughout the day, the West Indians kept showing in brief bursts just why the world is also hoping the new rise isn't another false dawn. And of course, at points when it mattered the most during the day, the Australians kept reminding the world why they are the team that will always find an escape route when their ascendancy is being challenged.
In a country which values the contenders, defenders and the crown itself in equal measure, it was also a chance for ODI cricket to show why it still remains relevant. And on a sunny and cheery day at Trent Bridge, the 50-over game showed why it is the perfect amalgamation of the intrigue and intensity of Test cricket and the energy and excitement of a T20 contest.
The first half-hour of play was a nostalgia-inducing throwback to the time when towering men from the Caribbean ran in fast and delivered the ball faster towards batsmen cowering in fear and at times being happy to throw their wicket away rather than get their body in the firing line. The rawness of Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell and their unadulterated attempts at sending the ball soaring towards the Aussies' heads-at times not bothering about some deliveries flying over them-only added to the fieriness of proceedings. It was also a calculated assault with skipper Jason Holder setting smart fields and in the case of Usman Khawaja, luring the batsmen into the bouncer trap. "If they come looking for bouncers, they'll get bouncers," a member of the West Indian support staff had warned a day earlier.
After Aaron Finch and David Warner had surrendered in meek fashion, it was poor Khawaja who bore the brunt. And you couldn't deny the left-hander, who copped a number of blows, some sympathy as he abdicated his spot in the middle by jumping away from his stumps and offering an edge to the wicketkeeper. Glenn Maxwell walked in, and after being offered a sucker blow in the form of a length ball first-up, was sent packing with a snorter from Cottrell, which he swatted at almost as a sign of throwing in the towel. At 38 for 4, the West Indies were on the charge. The Aussies were in retreat.
They say willpower is a muscle, and the more you work on it, the more it gets strengthened. It's a lot like winning. The more you win, the stronger your will to win. Winning's not a habit after all. It's an art that often thrives on your ability to hold your nerve. For 30 overs with the ball and 30 overs with the bat, the West Indies controlled the game, if not dominate it. But eventually it was the inexperience in closing out an ODI that runs through the line-up-save Chris Gayle - that stood out and eventually resulted in them falling short.
It's an art that Australian teams have mastered over the last few decades. And even if the present lot might have let it slip to an extent for a period of 18 months or so, they seem to have regained it since the tour of India. The resurgence started off cautiously with Steve Smith holding the fort, and Alex Carey providing the necessary impetus with some eye-catching strokeplay. But at 147 for 6 when Carey left, the West Indians seemed well and truly in command of the contest.
It is here that Nathan Coulter-Nile walked in and delivered the significant momentum-shift that often wins battles. It's unlikely he'll ever play a better knock in ODI cricket, but Thursday (June 6) in Nottingham was his moment to fire the salvo that turned the tide. The West Indians, to their credit, couldn't be blamed squarely for allowing Coulter-Nile to get away despite allowing him to score 80 per cent of his runs, boundaries
It was a game that West Indies had to win to show that they were true contenders for the crown. It was a game you knew Australia would somehow find a way of winning to show why they are its true defenders, and have been so often. Throughout the day, the West Indians kept showing in brief bursts of just why the cricket world is awakening once more to the thought of them climbing to the top of the pile. Throughout the day, the West Indians kept showing in brief bursts just why the world is also hoping the new rise isn't another false dawn. And of course, at points when it mattered the most during the day, the Australians kept reminding the world why they are the team that will always find an escape route when their ascendancy is being challenged.
In a country which values the contenders, defenders and the crown itself in equal measure, it was also a chance for ODI cricket to show why it still remains relevant. And on a sunny and cheery day at Trent Bridge, the 50-over game showed why it is the perfect amalgamation of the intrigue and intensity of Test cricket and the energy and excitement of a T20 contest.
The first half-hour of play was a nostalgia-inducing throwback to the time when towering men from the Caribbean ran in fast and delivered the ball faster towards batsmen cowering in fear and at times being happy to throw their wicket away rather than get their body in the firing line. The rawness of Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell and their unadulterated attempts at sending the ball soaring towards the Aussies' heads-at times not bothering about some deliveries flying over them-only added to the fieriness of proceedings. It was also a calculated assault with skipper Jason Holder setting smart fields and in the case of Usman Khawaja, luring the batsmen into the bouncer trap. "If they come looking for bouncers, they'll get bouncers," a member of the West Indian support staff had warned a day earlier.
After Aaron Finch and David Warner had surrendered in meek fashion, it was poor Khawaja who bore the brunt. And you couldn't deny the left-hander, who copped a number of blows, some sympathy as he abdicated his spot in the middle by jumping away from his stumps and offering an edge to the wicketkeeper. Glenn Maxwell walked in, and after being offered a sucker blow in the form of a length ball first-up, was sent packing with a snorter from Cottrell, which he swatted at almost as a sign of throwing in the towel. At 38 for 4, the West Indies were on the charge. The Aussies were in retreat.
They say willpower is a muscle, and the more you work on it, the more it gets strengthened. It's a lot like winning. The more you win, the stronger your will to win. Winning's not a habit after all. It's an art that often thrives on your ability to hold your nerve. For 30 overs with the ball and 30 overs with the bat, the West Indies controlled the game, if not dominate it. But eventually it was the inexperience in closing out an ODI that runs through the line-up-save Chris Gayle - that stood out and eventually resulted in them falling short.
It's an art that Australian teams have mastered over the last few decades. And even if the present lot might have let it slip to an extent for a period of 18 months or so, they seem to have regained it since the tour of India. The resurgence started off cautiously with Steve Smith holding the fort, and Alex Carey providing the necessary impetus with some eye-catching strokeplay. But at 147 for 6 when Carey left, the West Indians seemed well and truly in command of the contest.
It is here that Nathan Coulter-Nile walked in and delivered the significant momentum-shift that often wins battles. It's unlikely he'll ever play a better knock in ODI cricket, but Thursday (June 6) in Nottingham was his moment to fire the salvo that turned the tide. The West Indians, to their credit, couldn't be blamed squarely for allowing Coulter-Nile to get away despite allowing him to score 80 per cent of his runs, boundaries
