The year of slaying cricketing Goliaths

Sunil Rajguru

In international cricket, if you were a Goliath-like champion, then it was a bad year for you. If you were a David wanting slay such a Goliath, then it was ideal.

A 12-year rule ends

The Aussies were ODI world champions from 1999-2011 and seemed invincible during these years. Everyone predicted their fall, but it never happened.

When Steve Waugh won in 1999, many said that he was lucky to have such a great team. But one by one, the greats retired - the Waugh twins, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist… It didn't make any difference.

They even won the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy without all the above mentioned names. There was a real danger that they could win it in 2011 too, but India had other ideas.

India toppled the Aussies from the Test throne and stopped their march in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup too, so it was quite fitting that they did the same in ODIs.

Australia set a very competitive target of 261 in the quarter-finals, but India chased it with relative ease.

After blowing aside Pakistan in the semis, India again effected a record World Cup final chase of 275 with six wickets and 8 balls to spare. Predictably, champion player and captain MS Dhoni took us to the end.

Now in World Cup finals, we have successfully defended the lowest score (183) and chased the highest target (275).

Image: India's Yuvraj Singh, right, celebrates victory as Australia bowler Brett Lee looks on