Australianism: Saving the best for last, the team was determined to succeed and did so. The 92,453 spectators had started to move out of the enormous stands. The day’s dominating color, blue, slowly disappeared, exposing the neon orange seats that were vacant.
The world’s biggest cricket stadium became silent, ominously. The only noises emanating from the Australian dugout were the sound of broken hearts and their impending sixth World Cup win, which may be the most extraordinary of them.
There was not much cheering when Travis Head left the field after hitting an incredible 137 off 120 balls.
With six wickets remaining, Glenn Maxwell would smash the winning runs a delivery later, and the men in canary yellow would charge into the middle to celebrate. As crackers wormed into the dark skies, some Indian cricket players fell to the ground, and Mohammed Siraj’s eyes began to well up with tears.
Disbelief echoed through the air; this was meant to be India’s coronation day, but instead it was Australia’s night to reclaim the crown from England.
Head, the day’s hero, broke his hand two weeks prior to the World Cup, which made it nearly impossible for him to travel to India. Except for his rope-a-dope century against New Zealand when their prospects of making the semi-finals were on the line, the injury would magically heal, and he returned to lead the team in both the semi-final (62 off 48) and the final.
When questioned about his painful injury days after the game, Head would respond, “It’s a lot better than watching the World Cup on the couch at home” (referring to his injury). Although I was a little anxious, Marnus Labuschagne handled the situation brilliantly and performed brilliantly.
Labuschagne would collapse in happiness, his unbeaten 58 off 110 balls as important as Head’s century. It’s the finest accomplishment I’ve ever had a hand in. He would tell the broadcasters, “You know, if we played our best cricket we’re a chance. India have been the team of the tournament; they’ve been unbelievable.”
The lower-order held on and made crucial runs to guide them to the safety of the semifinal. The mustachioed counterpuncher Head would lead them to the highest point they had ever occupied in the history of the 50-over version of the game, despite facing an early storm from India.
In Tests and ODIs, Australia has exhibited an unwavering dominance that no other side has matched. They might dominate cricket more than any other nation. Even while other teams may have better players and be more financially supported, very few can match Australia’s unwavering fortitude—a quality that cricket academies are unable to impart.
This squad was more akin to the 1987 Allan Border Warriors. That was a youthful group of gifted but unspectacular players. In fact, a few of them, like David Boon, Craig McDermott, and Steve Waugh, would go on to become legendary players.
They weren’t one of the favorites leading up to that competition. For the first time in their six victories, however, they stumbled, stammered, and then sprang back to grab the trophy.
Even the 1999 triumph wasn’t without its mistakes, but Australia persisted, battled through, and ultimately destroyed Pakistan in the championship match. They would go on to win in 2003, 2007, and 2015, starting a legacy.
On their way to the top, they discovered new heroes, just like in 1987 and 1999. Their alleged weakness was the spin bowling department. Adam Zampa was the only specialist spinner they had included in the squad. However, Maxwell performed admirably in the role of second spinner; Head would contribute two crucial wickets in the match against South Africa.
There were doubts about Warner’s allegedly declining skills before to the competition. He would finish the competition with 535 runs scored. Despite conceding that he is still getting used to the format, Captain Cummins leaked 6.05 runs before to the championship game and turned in his best performance of the competition in the most important match.
Maybe their knowledge of their weaknesses propelled them to the crown. It may be fate, or it could be Australianism, as described by author John Arlott: “Wherever the impossibility exists within the limits of what the human body is capable of, there are Australians who think they can accomplish it.”… who have demonstrated success enough times for us to question whether nothing is impossible for them.
