SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015

Ailing Crowe pens emotional tribute

MELBOURNE: ’s former crick- He was inducted into the international et , who is terminally Hall of Fame last month and is mak- ill with lymphoma, has penned a moving ing the trip from New Zealand to watch tribute to his countrymen ahead of today’s the final live, cheering on the players he World Cup final against Australia. In a regards as the “sons I never had”. heart-wrenching column published on “I will hold back tears all day long. I will Cricinfo, the 52-year-old said Sunday’s gasp for air on occasions. I will feel like a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground nervous parent,” he wrote. “Whatever hap- might be the last he ever sees. pens, March 29 at the MCG will be the “My precarious life ahead may not most divine fun ever.” afford me the luxury of many more games Current Black Caps skipper Brendon to watch and enjoy,” Crowe wrote. “So this McCullum told a news conference on is likely to be it. The last, maybe, and I can Saturday he had read Crowe’s column and happily live with that.” he paid tribute to his ailing predecessor. Crowe, who played 77 tests and 143 “I think what he’s going through at the One-Day Internationals for New Zealand, moment is incredibly difficult. We had him was regarded as one of the world’s best involved in the group, and not long ago as batsmen during the late 1980s and early well we came and spent time with the 1990s. team and it was great,” McCullum said. “He He was diagnosed with follicular lym- seems to have really found peace with phoma two years ago but it went into himself and the game as well, and he’s remission. Late last year, however, a new, been instrumental in helping some of our more aggressive form of the disease, dou- guys on the team peel back their games ble-hit lymphoma, developed and he said and really focus on being able to develop he had been told only five percent of suf- individually but also buy into the team col- ferers survive more than 12 months. Crowe lectively. He’s been a really big asset. “It’s said he had decided against chemothera- really sad what he’s going through and we py and was instead trying natural treat- just hope that he’s able to find some peace ments. in the time that he’s got left.” —Reuters

‘Ultimate game’ MELBOURNE: Australia’s captain Michael Clarke (left) and New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum shake hands as they pose for a photo with the trophy at the MCG in Melbourne. —AP excites McCullum Clarke quits as Australia, MELBOURNE: New Zealand captain tournament. “There is no challenge which Brendon McCullum said he was excited, not is insurmountable with a lot of hard work, a intimidated, at the prospect of leading his lot of heart, a lot of belief and making sure country in their first World Cup final when that everyone’s heading in the same direc- NZ eye World Cup title they face old foes Australia at the gigantic tion. Melbourne Cricket Ground today. “We will play an aggressive brand of Australia, the top-ranked side in one- cricket with bat and ball. We will play with MELBOURNE: Australia captain Michael Clarke 2015 World Cup to be the “most-followed and favorites on home turf at the MCG, where New day international cricket, are bidding for a the humility which we’ve played with has added a fresh edge to today’s blockbuster best-attended cricket event in history”. Zealand last played an ODI in 2009. Clarke said fifth World Cup title and will be considered throughout this campaign. World Cup final against New Zealand in Among a plethora of statistics, the ICC cited a the Black Caps may struggle to adjust to condi- favourites on home turf at the MCG where “And hopefully the big fella upstairs Melbourne by announcing the match will be his a crowd of 86,000 at the MCG for the -South tions at the 90,000 capacity ground after playing New Zealand last played an ODI in 2009. shines on us when the pressure situations last one-day international. “I think it’s the right Africa pool match on February 22 — “a phenom- all their eight previous matches this tournament But the Black Caps are the only unbeaten come into play.” McCullum insisted that his time for me and the Australian cricket team,” the enal result given that neither of the host teams on their own grounds across the Tasman Sea. team in the tournament, having won eight team were not overawed by the prospect 33-year-old Clarke told reporters yesterday. were involved”-and that the official website had “Conditions are a lot different to what New games in a row. One of those victories was of playing at the famous amphitheatre, “I made the decision 48 hours ago when I attracted 227 million page views as evidence of Zealand have been playing in New Zealand,” against Australia in a low-scoring pool where New Zealand have won three of asked myself if I thought I would be playing in the tournament’s success. New Zealand go into Clarke said after his team’s emphatic 95- stage thriller in on February 28 their last five matches against Australia. the next World Cup and I said to myself that ‘I their first title clash in cricket’s 50-overs-a-side semi-final victory over defending champions when a six off Pat “I guess this is the ultimate game for us,” don’t think I will be’,” added Clarke, whose career showpiece as the only unbeaten team in the India on Thursday. Cummins helped them reach a modest tar- he said. “A 100,000 people in Australia’s has been blighted by back and hamstring prob- tournament, having won eight games in a row. However, New Zealand have defeated get of 152 with one standing. backyard, MCG and its history and tradi- lems. One of those wins was against Australia in a Australia in three of their last five ODIs at the “We are not intimidated, we are excited,” tions and against a very good Australian. Clarke has played 244 one-day internationals, low-scoring pool stage thriller in Auckland on MCG and their most recent appearance saw McCullum said yesterday. “This has been “I’m sure some guys will be nervous scoring 7,907 runs with a highest score of 130 February 28 when a Kane Williamson six off Pat semi-final star Elliott’s unbeaten 61 fashion a six- the greatest time of our lives. We dreamed tomorrow morning. There is some excite- since his debut in 2003. He intends to keep play- Cummins helped them surpass a modest target wicket win with seven balls to spare after right from the start and to reach the final is ment about us going out there tomorrow ing Tests, however, having already featured in of 152 with one wicket standing. Australia had been restricted to 225 for five from an amazing achievement.” and putting our skills against the best in 108 matches, with 8,432 runs and a highest It was at the same in Auckland that 50 overs. New Zealand crossed the semi-final hur- their backyard. score of 329 . the Black Caps downed in a nerve- Opener , who hit a World Cup dle for the first time in seven attempts to “That certainly whets the appetite and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum tingling semi-final on Tuesday with a penulti- record score of 237 not out against the West leave an enthralled rugby-mad nation creates the greatest stage we can ask for. It struck the first psychological blow when he mate-ball six by . Indies, is just 10 runs away from surpassing Sri backing their cricketers to take home crick- is certainly going to be a special day.” named his team 24 hours before the final. Lanka star ’s tally of 541 to et’s biggest global prize. McCullum added he hoped his team could Unsurprisingly, the Black Caps retained the same RUGBY-MAD NATION become the tournament’s leading run-getter. “We’ve had some tremendous support win the World Cup for 36-year-old Daniel side which edged out South Africa in the semi- New Zealand’s first semi-final win in seven Left-armer is the leading bowler in back home and also from around the Vettori, who is likely to end his internation- finals. “It’s captivated the country back home, it’s attempts left an enthralled rugby-mad nation this edition with 21 , one more than world,” said McCullum. “The brand of cricket al career after today’s final even though the immensely satisfying but we have to build on it. backing their cricketers to take home a trophy Aussie paceman , while seamer Tim that we’ve played has really touched a lot spinner has taken 15 wickets in the tourna- Gee it would be nice to win it,” said McCullum at that has so far eluded them in the World Cup’s Southee and veteran spinner have of people and endeared ourselves to a lot ment. “He is a tremendous ambassador for his pre-match news conference. 40-year history. 15 wickets each. The 36-year-old Vettori is likely of people who follow this game. the game,” the captain said. “He’s given over Meanwhile International Cricket Council chief Australia, the top-ranked side in ODI cricket, to end his international career after Sunday’s “Hopefully, if we play well we’ll be smil- half his life to this game and has been both executive David Richardson proclaimed the are bidding for a fifth World Cup title and will be final. —AFP ing at the end of the day and be able to an outstanding team-mate and a very close look back on a fantastic campaign and friend. It will be nice to achieve the ulti- something which would hopefully invigor- mate success for him.” ate the game and New Zealand.” McCullum said he expected a keen bat- McCullum said the expected full house tle against a country with whom New Kiwis descend on MCG of 90,000 at the MCG would see a keen Zealand shared a “healthy rivalry.” “We have contest between two evenly-matched seen some epic battles over the years and MELBOURNE: Kiwi fans daubed in But the same page saw one of Michael Clarke and New Zealand Brendon,” said Clarke. “I’ll always be teams. “We will play well tomorrow,” he across codes as well, not just cricket and black came out in droves yesterday the paper’s regular columnists, counterpart Brendon McCullum as grateful for the way he and his said. “It does not guarantee us anything rugby,” he said. “Tomorrow is no different. to support New Zealand on the eve Richard Hinds, deliver several jibes they chatted away during a photo team respected the Hughes and it does not mean that Australia won’t It’s a healthy rivalry which can continue of their team’s first World Cup final, as well. “Oddly some of our mild- opportunity with the World Cup tragedy and respected Phillip’s fam- beat us. But we will turn up and display our well after our time. It’s one that we look for- against fierce rivals Australia in mannered Australian players have trophy surrounded by the noise of ily, so that’s probably brought us skills just as we have done throughout the ward to as well.” —AFP Melbourne. been accused of . We whirring cameras. Asked what they closer together.” Despite defending Fans gathered around the nets promise they will not resort to any had said, Clarke replied: “I think I’ll champions India’s semi-final loss to outside the vast Melbourne Cricket tired old jokes,” Hinds wrote. keep that between Brendon and I, Australia, a large number of India’s Ground arena to get a glimpse of “You know, the ones about how but the main message from both of travelling cricket media, estimated Starc, Boult in their heroes training under cool your anthem pleads with God to us was we wish each other all the at 30, are staying on for the final, cloudy skies. “defend New Zealand” because no best.” making for a packed press box According to government statis- reputable lawyer would do so. Or Clarke added he was grateful for today. World Cup swing tics there are about 650,000 New how staging Miss New Zealand the support shown by McCullum Meanwhile, ticket-less support- Zealand citizens living in Australia, only involves putting up a mirror and the New Zealand team follow- ers will be able to watch the match which is around 15 percent of the ball in a shearing shed.” ing the passing of Australia bats- on a giant screen at the fan zone MELBOURNE: For the second time at this Boult is one of four New Zealanders, population of New Zealand. man , aged just 25, near the MCG on the banks of World Cup, Australia’s Mitchell Starc and along with Williamson, Corey Anderson The huge diaspora of Kiwis HUGHES RESPECT who died after being struck on the Melbourne’s Yarra River. There will New Zealand’s Trent Boult will be asked to and , who will be making their residing in Australia means there is But amidst all the banter, there back of a head by a bouncer in a also be a ‘Go Gold’ march for deliver a killer blow that could determine first appearance at the gigantic 90,000- passionate support for their rugby was evidence of deep mutual domestic match in November. “I Australian supporters to the MCG their team’s fate in the final today. The two capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground. and cricket teams whenever they respect between Australia captain have a great relationship with before the game.—AFP lethal left-arm fast bowlers will go head-to But he will have good memories of play- cross the Tasman to take on the head at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as ing in Australia, being part of a historic greater-resourced ‘big brother’. the tournament’s leading wicket-takers New Zealand win by seven runs on his Test There was a brisk trade inside who lit up the group clash between the co- debut in Hobart in December, 2011. He the merchandising tent outside the hosts exactly a month ago. Boult grabbed took four wickets in the match. ground with supporters, predomi- 5-27 to bundle Australia out for 151 in He began his first World Cup appear- nantly New Zealanders, snapping Auckland before Starc hit back with 6-28 to ance with two wickets each in the first two up playing shirts, flags and caps for leave the Black Caps nine down and only games against Sri Lanka and Scotland, Sunday’s final which is expected to managing to go past the modest target managed just one against England before draw an 80,000-90,000 crowd. due to a Kane Williamson six. New Zealand emerging his team’s hero against Australia. Australia, bidding for a fifth title, captain Brendon McCullum said it would In his next two encounters against Test- remain resolutely confident of be hard to forget the performance of both nations, Boult picked up four wickets another success in a World Cup Boult and Starc in what was a “a tremen- against the West Indies and returned with final, particularly at home, and dous advertisement for the game”. figures of two for 53 against South Africa in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper “Mitchell and Boult put outstanding the semi-final. Saturday ran a triumphalist piece spells in that game and both were able to Starc, taller than Boult, generates a lot of headlined: “New Zealand won’t win get the ball to swing quite substantially,” pace and bounce but his wicket-taking and here’s why.” But Kiwi journalist said McCullum. “They posed a lot of ques- is the one that he brings in to the Dylan Cleaver got his own back in tions with wicket-taking deliveries.” right-hander, usually a deadly weapon for the Sydney Daily Telegraph, con- The two 25-year-olds have played a left-arm fast bowlers. trasting levels of support for major role in taking the trans-Tasman rivals He is Australia’s most prolific one-day Australia and New Zealand’s semi- to the final, with Boult’s 21 wickets in eight bowler in recent times with 81 wickets in final wins in Sydney and Auckland games just one more than Starc. But the 40 matches that include three five-wicket respectively. Australian has played a match less follow- hauls in his first 17 internationals. Starc, “If there had been more than ing a washed out game against Brisbane. who has extracted plenty from responsive one Australian to 10 Indians in the Boult has now taken more wickets in Australian pitches, has been equally suc- crowd I’m sure there would have eight World Cup games than he did in his cessful on slow, flat wickets. In three recent been a few signs of life in the place,” first 16 one-day internationals where he matches in the United Arab Emirates, he he wrote. “Things got a bit rowdy had only 18 scalps. claimed nine scalps against Pakistan. here at Eden Park on Tuesday when The Northern Districts bowler appears Starc may have failed to score a run in Grant Elliott hit a six to win off the to have followed in the footsteps of his three visits to the crease in the penultimate ball (against South hero, Pakistan’s left-arm great Wasim tournament, but he is no bunny with the Africa). The crowd went nuts. Akram, with consistent pace and his ability bat, having made 99 in the Mohali Test MELBOURNE: The New Zealand team gather during training for the Cricket World Cup final at the People looked like they cared.” to swing the ball both ways. against India in 2013. —AFP Melbourne Cricket Ground. New Zealand play Australia in the final today. —AP