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Lee...star of World Cup
Tony Becca, Senior Sport Editor
CRICKET'S WORLD Cup of 2003 is now history and despite the disappointments of England refusing to play in Zimbabwe and New Zealand staying away from Kenya, the rain and the Duckworth/Lewis system, plus the failure of home team South Africa and the popular West Indies to make it to the second round, it was a tremendous success off the field and on the field.
Off the field, the organisation was superb. In fact, in that respect, World Cup 2003 will be remembered as the best ever.
The event, however, was about cricket, and although the jury is still out as to whether the action on the field was the best ever, there can be no question that it was exciting, that there were some quality performances, collectively and individually, and that the memories will linger with the fans for a long, long time.
The fans, for example, will never forget champions Australia, who won all their matches, and Kenya, who ticked off victories over Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe on their way to the semi-finals.
The Aussies were so good that they won even when it appeared they would lose; and they were so strong that they nailed India not once but twice and easily on both occasions.
In the first round, they routed India for 125 and then strolled to 128 for one to win by nine wickets; and in the final, after losing the toss and sent in to bat, they smashed 359 for two and then knocked off India for 234 to win by 125 runs.
Looking at the individual batting performances, the best of them, as far as quality and value to the team were concerned, were Brian Lara's 116 off 134 deliveries for the West Indies against South Africa and Andrew Symonds' 145 not out off 125 deliveries for Australia versus Pakistan.
Then, Sachin Tendulkar's 98 off 75 deliveries for India against Pakistan, Stephen Fleming's 134 not out off 132 deliveries versus South Africa, Ricky Ponting's 140 not out off 121 deliveries for Australia against India in the final, and with Australia on 84 for seven against New Zealand and defeat staring them in the face, the combined effort of Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel who shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 97.
Looking at the individual bowling performances, the best were Chaminda Vaas' three wickets with the first three deliveries in Sri Lanka's match against Bangladesh, Ashish Nehra's six for 23 for India against England, Bichel's seven for 20 for Australia versus England and Shane Bond's six for 23 for New Zealand versus Australia.
The fans will also never forget John Davison's innings for Canada against the West Indies during which he blasted the fastest century in World Cup history - 67 deliveries, and probably also the Shoaib Akhtar delivery that removed Tendulkar two short of a century.
There were also some brilliance in the field, and those who saw them will forever remember the catch by Vasbert Drakes on the long-on boundary to cut down Davison, the one by Mohammad Al-Shariar of Bangladesh when he flew to his right at mid-off to dismiss Lara, the direct hit from square-on when Lou Vincent, after a diving save on the mid-wicket boundary, and Chris Cairns of New Zealand teamed up to run out Lara, and the direct hit, again from square-on out at square-leg, when Vaas ran out Adam Gilcrhist from 99.
In a tournament of so many brilliant performances and so many brilliant performers, the question is who was the man of the tournament, and although the official award went to Tendulkar who scored a record 673 runs, although left-hander Vaas, who swung the ball both ways while taking 23 wickets, was great, it could well have been Brett Lee who bowled fast, accurately and got the ball to swing and to move off the seam.
The Aussie took 22 wickets, including five for 42 versus New Zealand and a hat-trick against Kenya, and those wickets no doubt helped Australia retain the title.
What was impressive about Lee, however, was his pace. He was fast - so fast that he intimidated the batsmen to the extent that one could almost see fear in their eyes. Without him, Australia may not have won the title.
There was always a buzz of excitement whenever Lee took the ball, the expectation was that something was about to happen, and without him, World Cup 2003 may not have been so exciting.
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