Classics - I. When Wanderers became Waterloo

19th March 2006: The Day that Cricket Changed Forever

         Sometimes, a cornered cat is the deadliest being that exists. One can never be sure of what it can do to its aggressors. The South African cricket team, popularly called the Proteas, turned out to be exactly this as they encountered Australia for the final MTN Standard Bank ODI at the 'Bullring' Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Having risen from a 0-2 trail in the series to 2-2 after 4 matches, SA looked poised for a challenge, while the Aussies were smug as ever.

       Having won the toss, Ricky Ponting elected to Bat first as the pitch looked green and fast. Little did he know that shortly, things would go haywire there! Right from the first ball, the kangaroos unleashed a run-flood and endlessly pounded fours and sixes all around. Ricky Ponting came in at his traditional no. 3 slot and upped the onslaught. In 73 balls, he stroked his career's fastest century, the scorecard standing in the mid-300s. As the tense home crowd watched, their bowlers were beaten black and blue as the Aussie captain danced his way to a regal 164 off 105 balls, studded with 9 sixes and 13 fours. Australia had hoisted a massive 434-4, the then highest ever ODI team total in cricket. 

       The beauty of this match is in the play after the first innings. Having such a mammoth total in itself ensured an australian victory psychologically. But the proteas issued their counter-strike immediately, raising their attack right from ball 1, dealing six with six. Opener Herschelle Gibbs maintained a constant run-rate of 9 per over to hoist his team to a fairly comfortable position, namely 271-2 off 29 overs, a seemingly impossible feat until then. Even thence, victory seemed a distant mirage at the bullring for the South Africans. Just when Gibbs seemed well on his way to score ODI cricket's first double century, he fell  after a colossal 175, built on 7 towering sixes and 21 fours off just 111 balls, his career best knock, in the 32nd over. The home team practically fell apart at this juncture, reaching 355-6 off 42.1 overs, the target looking lost now.

       Then there came a remarkable display of grit and killer instinct, as explosive wicket keeper Mark Boucher struck his way on to a quickfire 46, engineering his team to 399-7/46.3 overs, then to 423-8/48.2 overs, and finally to 434-9 off 49.4 overs amid a dangerously unstable and collapsing tail-order. By sheer luck, or providence, bowler Makhaya Ntini risked a single at 49.3 overs, putting his wicket, the match and the series at stake. The gamble paid off and Mark Boucher got the strike. The scores were level. The jam-packed stadium, and the world along with it, was speechless for an infinite moment. As Brett Lee threw down that second last ball of the over, as Boucher came forward and struck the ball with all his power, sending it zooming into the boundary, as a dumbstruck Australian side saw the ball, match, and the ODI series slip away before their eyes, the entire world erupted in joy and jubiliation. Cricket had triumphed, at Australia's cost, though.

Consequences:
                  This matchless clash of the titans left the World No.1 team gasping for breath. Though strong, its self esteem had been hit badly. There is no doubt in many a mind that Australia has never been the same team that it was after this particular match. It even showed as the Kangaroos lost their No.1 spot shortly to South Africa, then to India, and now are lightly holding on to it. Their stance at the pinnacle of World cricket is now jittery and doubtful. All this, because of one determined opposition.

 Retrospection: 

                This match teaches us the most important lesson: the importance of calm and focus on the goal. Had Mark Boucher not focussed on those last few runs, South Africa would have narrowly missed this tryst with destiny. 

                 The strength of a calm mind is immense. Even if you are pressed down by a million opinions, you can hold out on your own. The mind makes a great servant; if controlled, it can create wonders for you. If left free, it is a wild bison amongst the crowds. So, the more we condition the mind and maintain its calm, the better our life turns out to be.
                It shows us the fine intricacies of mental manipulation of opponents in situations like the aforesaid match. Mental conquest of the opponent is almost 95% of the task done. Thenceforth it becomes just a matter of time that the person or team falls apart. 

                Steeling oneself against such windfalls greatly enhances one's self-esteem, self-confidence, and zeal.