OTD in 2015: Australia became 5-Time World Champions!

image-lftfshf0Australian pace trio with the 2015 World Cup trophy (Twitter/@ICC)

Australia have always been a dominating sporting nation. In cricket too, there have been phases like in in the first decade of the 21st century where they were untouchable and almost won everything that came their way.  

That dominant Aussie side recorded an unbelievable feat of winning three consecutive 50-over World Cups -1999, 2003 and 2007  World Cup. They had also won a Word Cup in 1987 in difficult subcontinent conditions under Allan Border but could not do the same in their home conditions in the famous 1992 World Cup. 

There is something about winning the highest honour of the game in front of your home crowd cheering you through every thick and thin and after 1992 that opportunity came Aussies way 23 years later in 2015. The whole Australia was itching to see their team lift the World Cup trophy that year, something India did in front of their home crowd in 2011.

The 2015 World Cup was played in New Zealand too along with Australia and it started on the Valentine day with both the host nations winning their opening game comprehensively. As the tournament started going deep, the excitement kept growing with New Zealand, Australia and India dominating rest of the teams.

There were plenty of high-scoring games and thrillers on the way but it was the New Zealand against Australia game at Auckland, a low scoring nail-bitter that turned out to be a highlight of that World Cup. New Zealand won that game by just a wicket chasing 152 and many Aussie fans were hoping that they get their revenge sometime in the World Cup when the kiwis come in the Australian backyard.

That moment came on the 29th of March, 2015 in the summit clash of the World Cup as both New Zealand and Australia managed to outclass their opponents in their respective thrillers in the semi-finals. Throughout the tournament, Brendon McCullum led his side with swag and grace and his belligerent batting at the top of the order was something to behold. However, Starc too at the other end was at his fearsome best and the battle between the opening batter and the opening bowler was one to look out for.

The hype was unreal! The MCG was jam-packed and Starc came steaming in for his opening over. McCullum and Starc were up against each other on the third ball of the game with Starc beating the Kiwi skipper straightaway. Then came McCullum charging in on the fourth delivery only to be beaten again and then the fifth ball - The ball that stunned Kiwis and took Aussies over the moon. Starc had hit the timber with an absolute ripper - A Yorker and McCullum had no answer for it.

That set the momentum for the Aussies and Kiwis were soon restricted to 39 for 3. Ross Taylor and Grant Elliot had a good partnership for the fourth wicket but once Taylor departed it all fell away very quickly for the Kiwis as James Faulkner picked three important wickets. They were bundled out for just 183 and needed to do something what India did in the the famous 1983 World Cup final.

However, Australia were in no mood to let this rare opportunity to win the World Cup at home go out of their grasp and though Finch departed early, Warner-Smith and Clarke batted positively and completed a clinical chase. Smith finished things off in style on the first delivery of the 34th over with a boundary to the square leg fence and the Australian dream of winning the World Cup trophy at home finally came true under the inspired leadership of Michael Clarke on the 29th of March, 2015!