Teams used to lose to Australia even before they stepped on to the field. Such was the aura of the side. Since the retirement of some of their greats, Ricky Ponting and his side’s character have been tested. They lost in the finals of the CB Series to India, lost to South Africa at home in ODIs. The most crushing blow was losing the Ashes.
Ponting’s side is going through a transitional phase. It is to be a period when Ponting’s true character is to be tested. In the captain’s own words it was ‘very satisfying’ to see some of the up and coming players perform in a big final.
Shane Watson and Cameron White are two of the relatively younger players who made the difference for Australia in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on Monday. In the semifinal, the unbeaten hundreds by Watson and Ponting saw the team home against England. Tim Paine has done well behind the stumps while Peter Siddle, the ICC Emerging Player of the Year, is gaining in stature.
“As I said to Cameron White and Shane, the situation doesn’t get much harder than what it was for them tonight. We lost two early wickets in chase of a low score and two for six and we got two relatively young guys at the wicket. To see these young guys stand up and get us across the line has been very satisfying. That has always been the feature of the Australian teams. If the bigger guys don’t perform we always have some of the younger guys who stand up and perform,” Ponting said after winning the title.
After Ponting failed on Monday, Watson and White saw through a difficult period that could have rocked the Australian chase. “The last couple of months…the way Watson has played his cricket, we are starting to see the real Shane Watson I think. He is getting his opportunity and is now back at peak fitness. With the ball and, at the top of the order, with the bat, he has shown everybody how good a cricketer he can be. The way he bowled against England was terrific and to come out and make that 130 was terrific,” the skipper added.
Talking about what the victory meant to him, Ponting said, “I am ecstatic. To win a tournament like this is great reward for all the guys. As soon as the one-dayers kicked off in England, yes it was about playing well there…but we always had one eye on the Champions Trophy. Five months on the road has been a long time… we have had our ups and downs…There will be some good celebrations. The real positive for us is that some of the younger guys are getting some experience they are starting to make an impact, like Watson has done over the last few days.”
