In a World Cup final, focus on the dos, not the don’ts: Matthew Hayden
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Matthew Hayden during the Interview |
MATTHEW Lawrence Hayden… Does he need an introduction? The Australian legend, a double World Cup winner, took a host of questions on the eve of the 2023 edition’s final.
Excerpts…
Q: Arguably, the one team India would have least preferred to face in the final is Australia. Yet, after 20 years, it’s India-Australia once more…
A: India didn’t drop a point, Australia lost two matches. However, they’ve got stronger and, whatever the metric, scored in the semi-final against South Africa. Going by numbers in this World Cup, though, India are ahead.
Q: To deflect pressure, some players want you to believe a final is like any other match. Can’t be, surely…
Q: Interesting your comment about getting the job done… What is it about Australia that they come out of sticky situations?
A: The ability to beat the odds is fuelled by five World Cup titles… Allan Border has been like (late) Sir Edmund Hillary, becoming the first captain to win. Since then, of course, we’ve had Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting twice and Michael Clarke. ‘We’ve been there and done it’ is a strong driving force. I’m aware India also have two titles. When both finalists have experienced that winning feeling, expect a good contest.
Q: The Australia-South Africa semi-final saw as many as seven World Cup winners of 2015 featuring in the XI. India have no more than two from the squad which last won the World Cup, in 2011. Significant, on the face of it?
A: Can’t predict the impact it could have, but ‘been-there-done-that’ may have a bearing if it gets tight.
Q: You’ve mentioned India are ahead on numbers. Will you elaborate?
A: The only Achilles heel India have is their fielding. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja are outstanding, but your fast bowlers? Look at David Warner the other day, at 37, he’s still flinging himself like a kid. In the first 10 overs, Warner saved around 20 runs… Add 20 to South Africa’s total and, well, you never know. It’s in fielding alone that Australia enjoy a competitive advantage… By numbers, I meant 10 on 10 wins… Runs from the top three – captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat… From Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Mohammed Shami, in only six matches, is ahead on wickets… Australia have, at times, struggled. Hasn’t helped that Steve Smith and Manus Labuschagne haven’t got the runs expected. The dependance has been on Warner and Mitch Marsh. But, and this is important, the advantage in numbers need not necessarily influence the result.
Q: You featured in two World Cup finals (2003, 2007) and Australia won both. What goes into winning a final?
A: The freedom to express yourself is a key element. Besides, you have to be a warrior, be like an Adam Gilchrist in the first over of the 2003 final, when he smashed Zaheer Khan. That was such intent… So, having the freedom and behaving like a warrior.
Q: How did you and others handle all the pressure going into the finals?
A: The tendency is to talk of the don’ts. However, to do well in big matches, in a World Cup final, you need to focus on the dos, not the don’ts. So, we avoided the double negative… Also, we acknowledged and appreciated that you couldn’t (mechanically) just roll out and do your stuff. A World Cup final had to be treated differently.
Q: Three Most Valuable Players for both finalists this time…
A: Outstanding Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav… For Australia, I’d go for Warner, Josh Hazlewood and the brilliant Adam Zampa – he’s a top reason for Australia being in the final.
Q: You’ve followed a pattern…
A: Didn’t set out to, but has turned out that way. Opener, fast bowler, leg spinner… Rohit vs Warner, Bumrah vs Hazlewood, Kuldeep vs Zampa… Who will come off better? Add Virat vs Marsh.
Q: I assume Rohit’s experience as captain gives him a headstart over Pat Cummins…
A: Captaincy is a factor (in any final), but not the main factor. Cummins has got better during this World Cup. Today, he’s able to handle pressure better… Rohit has obviously been good, but hasn’t been pushed to the wall. It’s only when things go horribly wrong that you need a capable leader.
Q: Rohit has left an indelible mark. Some words from you…
A: Rohit already has 550 runs, which is a mightily big number, but don’t look at that figure only. Also admire what his form has done, allowing Virat and Shreyas to bat with less pressure.
Q: Looking back, the one batting and one bowling performance which stands out?
A: One is tough… I’d pick Shami’s seven for 57 in the semi-final (against New Zealand)… In batting, Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not out against Afghanistan. It was an unbelievable, freakish innings. I’ll mention Shreyas’s 105 in the semi-final as well. Shami and Virat got all the attention, but if India reached 397 for four, Shreyas played the most significant hand.
Q: Top five impact-making players…
A: In no particular order… Shami, Rohit, Zampa, Warner and Quinton de Kock.
Q: Team of World Cup 2023?
A: Going into the final, India. Some may pick Afghanistan, but, no. Afghanistan would qualify as the team which surprised.
Q: Disappointments?
A: England, the 2019 champions. A disastrous campaign, but still a team with great players… Also Pakistan. Their fielding, uff… Naseem Shah’s injury before the World Cup hurt them big time, huge blow. But you have to cope with such situations.
Q: Players get all the credit, but how much of a role does the head coach play?
A: Mate, you can’t coach talent. Just cannot. Either you have it or you don’t. Would late Elvis Presley, for example, have needed a voice coach? A head coach or coach’s main job, as I see it, is to work with the high-performance managers to nurture talent which peaks at the right time.
Q: Last one… Your heart, naturally, would say Australia, but..
A: Definitely Australia from within! Realistically, India have cricket’s premier tournament at home and the final on a wicket which would suit them. It’s going to be tough for Australia, but the metric had also been in favour of South Africa (in the semi-final), yet they lost. Instead of heading to Ahmedabad, the Temba Bavumas would have been sipping red wine on the first flight home. We, Australians, walk the talk. Traditionally, there’s this knowingness. Gives no guarantee, but helps.
Postscript: Cummins won the toss and, somewhat surprisingly
(irrespective of the dew factor), chose to bowl. Both XIs unchanged, expect a
thriller.
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