World T20 2009 Comes To An End

I never thought that such a day would come when i would have to post a image of Pakistani cricket team on my blog, but alas, the unfortunate day has come, and a little too quickly for my comfort.

I am not a jingoist who hates Pakistan, but i am an Indian who somewhere or the other feels that if we don't win then neither should they, we always compare ourselves with each other, after all we are neighbors and comparisons with neighbors and that too your arch rivals are inevitable.

After India were knocked out of the tournament every person that i talked to about cricket had the same view - That if India has not gone through super eights so neither should Pakistan, after Pakistan went into the semis the view changed to that any of the 3 others team should win the world cup, but please not Pakistan. But in the end Pakistan finally won. Honestly speaking i was supporting Sri Lanka in the finals, but their batsmen choked, except Jayasuriya (who was a little unlucky) and Sangakkara. I really felt bad when a Pakistani supporter was holding a banner on which it was written "I hope India you are watching", after seeing that i came to conclusion that they also compare themselves with us, like we do and hates us probably more than we do because we are ahead of them in almost all aspects whether it be economic, social, political etc.

Enough of distraction. Lets get back to the World cup. Here i will review each team one by one. My review would be limited to Top 7 teams which would be Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, England and India.

Pakistan - The champions of T20 2009. This team was at a point when it was one defeat away from tournament exit but they peaked at the right time, very similar to the 1992 world cup and eventually they triumphed. They played excellently in one match against New Zealand which ensured that they went through to the semis and then followed it up with good performances in the next two matches to take the cup. Against South Africa they really played well, Shahid Afridi clicked both in batting and bowling. In finals also Shahid Afridi's knock was very crucial. When looking back at the tournament i wouldn't rate this team too high, yeah its good with some nice players but its not the best team in the world, not by far, that honor would either go to Australia, South Africa or India. They are champions because they played well in the crucial matches. The best part is that the reality of this teams consistency will come to the fore when next T20 world cup is played after 9 months. Don't worry Indian fans, this team won't be called champions for long, the day Pakistanis were crowned i can say that that it has been decided or written somewhere that this title would not stay with them for long, it would be snatched away just a few months down the line. Oh Yeah, we Indians are watching and will surely watch that moment also few months later!!!

Sri Lanka - A good team overall. Too good in bowling but lacking depth in batting. Relied heavily on its openers as the middle order was not in form. In the final when the time to deliver came Dilshan, Jayawardne, Mubarak everybody failed. Only Sanath Jayasuriya can claim himself to be unlucky as he got bowled by an inside edge, but i don't think anything should be said to Sanath, he tried his best and he just happened to drag one ball onto his stumps. Sangakkara played well but was not able to pace his innings nicely. The acceleration in the end was provided by Matthews which stretched their total to 139. In the finals Mendis disappointed, his entire tournament's economy rate was 4.75 but in this match he was not able to restrict Pakistanis to less than 6 runs even in one over, he still lacks the ability to deliver onto the big stages, Mendis needs to learn that in order to be called a great bowler. Muralitharan bowled well but had one bad over. Lasith Malinga bowled excellently but it was not enough as in the end one over from Udana went for far too many. In spite of all its weaknesses a team to look out for in the future.

South Africa - Only one word for them "Chokers". 7 victories on the trot going into the semi finals and then throwing it all away. Nothing to take away from Pakistanis but Pakistan didn't won the match, it was South Africa who lost it. They rely too heavily on Graeme Smith on big occasions, if he fails then everybody fails. In normal league games AB Devilliers would play well but in the most important match he got out cheaply. This team has history of choking from 1992 world cup semifinal (1 ball 22 runs), 1996 world cup quarter final (against Lara), 1999 world cup semifinal (against Steve Waugh and Shane Warne), 2003 world cup in the first round(calculation mistake), 2007 world cup (bizzare tactics against Aussies) and finally this T20 2009 semi final. Leaving aside 1992 world cup in which they were unlucky all the other instances were the one where South Africa themselves were the culprits or in other words "chokers". In the middle i have missed many more choking moments like not able to score 6 runs from the last over against Sachin Tendulkar in a Hero Cup semifinal, another would be losing to India in Titan Cup final. Except the 438 in Johannesburg South Africa history is filled with choking examples. This team has some very very good players, but it would never be a great team because you need to have great achievements in order to be called great. I think only a mentally tough captain like Graeme Smith can help these chokers to rise to the occasion someday. Till now it hasn't come, lets hope because of Smith it does comes.

West Indies - Mercurial batting display carried them till the semi finals but finally the inconsistency for which they are famous came back and it all crumbled on the day it mattered. But still many positives for the team, it showed that they are a force to reckon with in international cricket, at least in the shortest format. Even when Gayle didn't played well they won matches which shows that they are not entirely reliant on Gayle. The inhuman slaughter by Gayle of Australian bowling attack is something which would be etched in my memory for times to come. Nicely done Gayle, keep up the good work.

New Zealand - Self destructed in one match against Pakistan to such an extent that the last match became do-or-die for them as their net run rate had crept far too low and that of Pakistan had gone way up. A good team but highly incapable of performing in big matches especially against Pakistan. They have got a history again Pakistan. In 1992 world cup New Zealand lost only two games in the whole tournament both were against Pakistan. In 1999 world cup semifinal they again crumbled against Pakistan. Looks like they have got some mental problem against this team.

England - Their batting is far too conservative for a T20 game. Reverse sweeping or switch shots don't mean aggression. For aggression big hitting needs to be there, which England lacks of course with the exception of Kevin Petersen. Whenever Petersen played England looked a different team. And the guy has got a good habit he always comes good in big matches like he did against India and West Indies but unfortunately as always happens didn't had much support from the other end. Bowling is above average which includes Broad, Collingwood, Sidebottom and Anderson. They lack the cricketing skills as compared to other teams on the international scene. For The Ashes i won't bet on England.

India - The defending champions who went out in the super 8 by losing all their 3 matches. Against South Africa they were not able to chase a modest total of 131. I have already said enough about them in my previous posts. In short everything went wrong for them whether it be injury to key players or star batsmen not being in form to bowlers not bowling that well. Still a side with lots of talent that can be tapped, how they will respond to this defeat, we will know in 9 months time.

Overall a nice tournament but still i would keep the previous tournament above this one for many reasons. Many matches were exciting last time, whether it be Semifinals of India vs Australia or the final between India vs Pakistan. The adrenaline that the last tournament had was to some extent missing in this one. Another T20 world cup is there after 9 months, lets see how that turns out to be.