In the thin air of Wanderers, pace will hold the key

In the 50 years that I have been involved in first class cricket, this is the first time that I have thought pace on both sides would decide an India-Australia clash. It is also probably the first time I have felt that India have had a good enough pace attack to do the job. This transformation has been quite remarkable, but in Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Nehra they have a fine attack.

The early overs by the Australian opening bowlers will not be the place for faint-hearted batsmen. In recent matches Lee, in particular, hasn’t been shy in using short-pitched bowling to unsettle the opposition.

Even the fact that only one bouncer per over is allowed will not stop him from bowling short of length, for he well knows it is not the high bouncers that causes batsmen to flinch but consistent short balls aimed at the body that does the mental damage.

It is also obvious that Ganguly and Sehwag will be the main recipients. It is generally accepted that they are not at home against the short-pitched delivery and the Aussies will test this theory to the limit. While these tactics might seem rough and tough they are within the laws of the game and the Indian batsmen must mentally prepare for them.

While McGrath and Bichel will not bowl as many short balls as Lee, they will still let the odd one go to let the Indian batsmen know they can. In general, though, they will stick to what they do best. In McGrath’s case he will concentrate on his unbelievable accuracy of both length and line and frustrate the batsmen into error.

Sachin Tendulkar, the world’s best batsmen at present, is also sure to be targeted by Lee in particular. Every now and then Tendulkar, due to his lack of height, can get caught out by short balls on his body which he attempts to fend away. In my view Sachin would be best to just duck under the line of delivery and wait for the short one more suitable for his favourite squarecut.

The great secret in playing fast short-pitched bowling is to be sure in your mind, even before you go out into the middle, what are your best options to succeed against this form of attack.

Like Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid never looks totally comfortable against short balls, but he very seldom tries to get out of them. Inevitably bowlers against Waugh and Dravid bowl far too many short deliveries to try and shake them up. This is only playing into their hands as both of these batsmen are vulnerable against the ball that is well pitched up.

If the Wanderers pitch is the same as usual the toss will be very important. With a early start there always is a little more juice left below the surface, which both allows the ball to retain shine and will move off the seam. If the wicket looks a little moist the captains would be advised to bowl first.

If India do bowl first and the wicket is lively their bowlers must not get carried away and try and match the Australian tactics. While Nehra and Khan have good pace and useful bouncers they are at their best and most dangerous when they keep the ball up and allow it to swing.

Make no mistake about it, Hayden and Gilchrist will adopt the same tactics that have made them the most successful, dangerous and exciting combination ever in ODIs. They prosper when bowlers panic and try to do too much with the ball. Good old-fashioned line and length and patience is the way against them. As left-handers they can both be vulnerable against the ball that leaves them. This is also their strength, if the bowlers are too short or wide.

India’s two left-hand swing bowlers to my mind hold the key to an Indian victory. In recent times and indeed in this tournament Australia have had trouble against the swinging ball. It hasn’t been the greatest of tours in recent weeks for the top order Australian batsman and they are sure to be a little tense and worried.

The Indian new ball attack, to take advantage of this must bowl to that strength and the batsmen weakness and keep the ball up to allow it to swing. Ricky Pointing in particular must be targeted. When Pointing is not in form and down in confidence he tends to play his front foot shots on the move. This makes him vulnerable against left-handers, bowling across him and also change of pace.

Taking wickets is always the best way to win in any form of cricket. Too often this aspect is neglected in one-day matches. If India are to win this final they must attack the Australian batsmen and force them into error. Make no mistake about it: Australia will certainly do this and this is why they are the best team in the world in both forms of the game.

One-day cricket and finals are unique. It takes very little to change the fortunes of a game. It might be a lucky toss, interference from the weather, a fortunate or unfortunate umpires decision or a great catch or run-out. Invariably the latter two are generally the most important, while the others are often outside the control of the players.

Fielding is not and it is usually the team who fields and bowls the best who wins the game. Australia are ranked the finest fielding side in the world. In one-day finals anything can happen though. (Gameplan)