So isn't there a flaw in the Australian line up? Well, there is one, which has not been exploited in CWC 2007. They are not comfortable against good quality off-spin bowling...
Commenting on their 2003 success, the tragic hero of the 2007 world cup, Bob Woolmer, had declared, "They seem to have far fewer issues than most countries, either financial or racial or whatever. The issue is sport. The issue is being good at cricket. They get on well together and have a lot of fun together. Everything they do is done in the right way. A winning side is never liked, people say it’s too clinical, but I personally, as a cricket coach admire everything they’ve done…they’re like a master builder, they build houses better than the average builder."
One reason, among many, for the Australian success is their developed cricketing infrastructure. With sophisticated cricket academies in place in almost every Australian city, it is hardly surprising that the Australians are better than others in both fitness and skill. With extraordinary professionalism, competitiveness and competence by now part and parcel of the Aussie performance, Ricky Ponting’s team has looked invincible from the very outset. Experience is also a factor contributing to their success. With six players having had the feel of a world cup final before, it is no surprise that the Australians have handled the pressure much better than the others, especially the South Africans, in the semi-final. However, the Australian performance, it appears, is making the cricket world lopsided. There hardly seems a team that can challenge the Baggy Greens, a monopoly that might prove injurious for the sport in the long run.
It is here that we Indians need to take a leaf out of the Sri Lankan book. For them performance is the key and not what a person has done over the last decade or so. Perform or perish is the mantra and this is what has ensured that the Sri Lankans make the world cup final second time in the last four world cups, having also made the semi-final in 2003. It is this performance index that has opened the doors for Mahroof in the final in place of Fernando who has a far superior reputation as a fast bowler.