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Match referee Jeff Crowe took the blame for the farcical finish to the World Cup final that saw Australia celebrate victory twice and forced Sri Lanka to bat in pitch-black darkness. But he suggested third umpire Rudi Koertzen may have initiated a process that led to chaotic scenes at the climax of cricket’s showpiece game.
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Adam Gilchrist lived up to his billing as the most dangerous batsman in the one-day game with a record 149 as Australia won an unprecedented third straight World Cup final on Saturday in a match that ended in complete farce.
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Muttiah Muralitharan hopes that a Sri Lanka victory in Saturday’s World Cup final against champions Australia can help heal the war wounds of his strife-torn country. The star off-spinner said a victory would be a timely boost as violence on the island escalates between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.
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New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming announced his resignation as captain of his country’s one-day team after the 81-run defeat by Sri Lanka in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday. But Fleming said he wants to continue playing in the side and stay in charge of the Test team.
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Matthew Hayden’s third century of the tournament helped champions Australia extend their unbeaten run at the World Cup to 27 matches with a 215-run Super Eights thrashing of fellow semifinalists New Zealand at Grenada’s National Stadium on Friday. Hayden’s 103 off 100 balls was the centrepiece of Australia’s 348-6.
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There are few more thrilling sights in cricket than watching a fast bowler in action. That’s why the crowd at Grenada’s National Stadium on Friday will be doubly fortunate when champions Australia and New Zealand wrap up their World Cup Super Eights campaign.
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New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming’s 102 not out set the seal on a comprehensive nine wicket victory against Bangladesh on Monday as his side moved a step nearer the semifinals. Together with Hamish Marshall he shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 134 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
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Glenn McGrath believes Australia are a class apart as they chase an unprecendented third successive World Cup title. The reigning champions, winners in 1999 and 2003, as well as 1987, have won their last 22 World Cup matches and fast bowler McGrath cannot see a reason for that run to end in the Caribbean.
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Glenn McGrath was on the verge of making more cricket history as world champions Australia got their Super Eight campaign off to a winning start with a 103-run defeat of World Cup hosts West Indies on Wednesday. McGrath was left one wicket shy of Pakistan great Wasim Akram’s World Cup record of 55 wickets.
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Matthew Hayden’s commanding innings of 158 left world champions Australia in a strong position against hosts West Indies before rain forced the opening Super Eight match of this World Cup into a second day. Hayden’s record-breaking display was the centrepiece of Australia’s 322 for six after they’d lost the toss.