Australianism

Cricket Australia

Australianism: Single-minded determination to win – to win within the laws but, if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means where the ‘impossible‘ is within the realm of what the human body can do, there are Australians who believe that they can do it – and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them. It means they have never lost a match – particularly a Test match – until the last run is scored or their last wicket down.

Take a bow Michael Hussey and Cameron White. Australians prevail again in an outstanding match – one of the best matches I have seen in this format of the game. Plus it included a win for my all time favorite team and a loss for Pakistan. I am head over heels today.

What a Match. It was looking like Michael Clarke’s decision to bowl first in overcast conditions on a cloudy day was going to be a mistake. The Amkal brothers and Salman Butt played good solid cricket to fend off the quick guns Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes and they were already on way for their best opening stand against Australia in this format (or even ODI matches for that matter). A stunningly brilliant catch by David Warner removed Akmal. At that point it looked like the beginning of the end of the Pakistan innings, but the second Akamal brother – Umar came in and punched the ball around.

The final 5 overs of the Pakistan innings were like a nightmare for Australia. Pakistan scored 72 off those 5 and reached a humongous 191/6 in their quota of 20. Fortunately, the rain did not interrupt the match. As the Australian players came into the field, all eyes were on the best T20 opening pair in the World today – David Warner and Shane Waton. And it was a blunder. Warner fell to Aamer on a duck, his second in his T20 career and it couldn’t have been in a worse situation. It was a poor shot and a very bad dismissal at that. Even with all the criticism of the Pakistan fielding by everyone from Harsha Bhogle to Ian Chappel, they would never have dropped this one. Very soft dismissal. Watson hit a few blows and so did Haddin but 3 quick wickets, including Michael Clarke set Australia back a couple of blocks from the target.

It was never going to be easy from there, it was Pakistani spin against the batting of Cameron White and DJ Hussey; who both can it the ball when it matters. DJ Hussey hit a couple of big shots and departed to a loosener. His disgust was clearly visible on this face, but the wicket had fallen and Australians were again falling behind in probably the most important match in their T20 campaign. White, however, had a plan of his own. With 5 sixes he gradually shifted the momentum towards the Australian innings – something which was a must for them to stay in the game. Yet he got out on 43 off 31 balls and it was left to MEK Hussey and Steven Smith to finish the job off.

When White departed, I had lost almost all interest in the match; guess I am not a true Aussie supporter after-all, I gave up on them and decided to get some studies done – what followed was inhuman it was outrageous and bizarre and yet it was awesome and soothing. I came running as my friend messaged me about the state of the match. Smith had soon departed after hitting a four. 48 needed off 3 overs. 14 runs came off that over. 34 needed from 2 overs. Johnson joined the lone man Mr. Cricket, MEK Hussey and they scored 16 runs from that over. 4,2,2,2,2,4. It was a steady and solid performance by the ever cool Mr. Cricket and was crucial in setting the stage in Pakistan’s downfall. Final over, to be bowled by Ajmal, who gave only 11 runs off his first 2 overs and 14 in the 18th over of the game. Not bad stats with 23 runs from 3 overs (14 included 2 leg byes). 18 required off the last 6 balls and Johnson to face.

Johnson is by no means a bad batsman. Having a 96* and a century against South Africa in back to back test matches but he was not the man for today, the day was to be sealed by MEK Hussey as Johnson, connects the bat with the bowl, and gets a single. Crowd roars. MEK Hussey to face the best bowler for Pakistan this World Cup. He bowls and bowls a short slow one. Hussey waits – BANG and it goes out of the ground for a SIX. 11 needed from 4 balls. BANG, another SIX. 5 needed from 3 balls. Tense situation all around, Ajmal bowls, Hussey Cuts, there’s a fielder there who cannot get to the ball in time. FOUR. On the verge of a stunning victory 1 run needed off 2 balls, scores leveled and Hussey the man on strike. BANG – SIX. Australia wins the semi final against Pakistan to enter their first ever T20 final.

It was a dream performance by MEK Hussey and C White. I don’t have the vocabulary to praise them to the fullest because brilliant, outstanding and awesome have all become words being used in gully cricket matches. This was something special. MEK Hussey was the man of the match and he said only one thing – “I said to Pup (Michael Clarke) that this is the best feeling I have had in my professional career”. And he later said that this is one of the best innings he has ever played. Clarke could not resist his temptation to praise this innings and call MEK Hussey a freakish player.

Michael Hussey left Pakistan dumbstruck and stunned with an outrageously stupendous display of extreme power hitting to complete an unbelievable miraculous chase which, at one stage, seemed to be far fetched and well beyond human reach – it was again proved that it was not outside the reach of Austrlianism. They meet England in the T20 final on Sunday in Barbados. Irrespective of the result of that match, this night was a splendid night and Aussies have prevailed once more in matches which actually matter and not dead rubbers.

Aditya Shevade

Aditya I am, a Linux fanatic, a nature photographer, a music fiend… I spend most of my time these days listening to Music while browsing the Internet about various topics of my interest ranging from Electronics to coffee recipes. Learn more about me here.