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6th October 2009
Anyone else notice the similarities between Australia’s victory in the Champions Trophy and the 1987 World Cup victory? We don’t want to get too excited here, don’t want to slip into hyperbole. Yes, the ’87 victory was more significant. Yes, Border’s men played a lot more games in that tournament. Yes, they won more pressure games and played in front of bigger crowds.
But look at the similarities. That ‘87 tournament came on the back of a disastrous Ashes defeat. Back then the Australians had lost 2-1 at home, including a seven wicket hammering in Brisbane and a horrific innings defeat at Melbourne. That ’87 tournament also introduced a core of players who would go on to carry Australian cricket into the mid-90’s, setting the platform for two decades of Australian dominance. Geoff Marsh, David Boon, Steve Waugh, Craig McDermott – all shone in that 87 World Cup. That ‘87 tournament signalled the end of Australia’s cricketing doldrums.
Whether or not the Champions Trophy victory – in which Ponting, Watson, Paine, Siddle, Lee were all superb – will signal a similar upturn for the Australian team of ’09 remains to be seen. But the signs are certainly promising.
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