“My precarious life ahead may not afford me the luxury of many more games to watch and enjoy. So this is likely to be it. The last, maybe, and I can happily live with that. To see the two sons I never had, Ross Taylor and Marty Guptill, run out in black, in sync with their close comrades, drawing on all their resolve and resilience, will be mesmerically satisfying. I will hold back tears all day long. I will gasp for air on occasions. I will feel like a nervous parent.”—Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe on eve of World Cup final.

STAT OF THE DAY

3-2 — New Zealand’s win-loss record in the last five ODIs against Australia at the MCG, the last of which was won by New Zealand in 2009. But besides the three wins, New Zealand have won only one other game, way back in 1983. Overall Australia have a 14-4 record against New Zealand at this venue for a win-loss ratio of 3.5, which is their best against any team they have played more than two times at the venue. Australia’s record against New Zealand in the finals of any tournament at the MCG is 5-0.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

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