Champions Trophy 2017: "There is a feeling of destiny with Pakistan": Michael Hussey

[Suleiman]

India look strong but be prepared for mercurial Pakistan, says the former Australian batsman.

Both Pakistan and India have stormed into the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final with dominant performances in their semi-finals against the host, England, and Bangladesh, respectively.

Pakistan has surprised everyone in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 after being ranked eighth coming into the tournament, and was well and truly beaten in its first match against India. Since that match, every game has virtually been a knock-out game for it. It has played as though it has nothing to lose, with a freedom to express its skills, which is commendable considering the situation it found itself in.

There is a feeling of destiny with Pakistan.

During its last pool match against Sri Lanka, another must-win game, Pakistan looked dead and buried in its run-chase, but Sri Lanka could not land the knock-out blow with catches going down. As the pressure rose, the skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, played an inspirational innings to put his team through to the semi-final stage.

It carried that momentum to the England match, where everything clicked and now it has another opportunity to face arch-rival India in the final.

Pakistan doesn’t have an impressive record against India in ICC events. That said, the ICC Champions Trophy is the only event where it has defeated India, not once but twice – in 2004 at Southampton and in 2009 at Centurion. Although the two sides are locked at two-all on a head to head in the ICC Champions Trophy, I am sure Pakistan will get additional inspiration and motivation from its past successes in this event and will aim to extend its run come Sunday.

India has oozed class throughout the tournament with each player looking in great touch and clear with the role he plays in the team.

The cricketing world was shocked when Sri Lanka chased down India’s big total to win at The Oval, but other than that hiccup, India has looked, with England, the strongest team in the competition.

The top order of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been remarkable, looking in total control out in the middle. They are intimidating opposition bowlers with their class and breathtaking stroke-play.

One concern for India is that there hasn’t been much work for the likes of Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to do with the bat and Pakistan could exploit this, if it gets early wickets in the final. It’s a big IF!!!

India also has great variety and balance in its attack with spinners turning the ball in opposite directions, pace and skill. It is amazing to think that someone of the class of Umesh Yadav can’t make the starting eleven.

Jasprit Bumrah is a very important part of the attack. He is one of the best death bowlers in the world, executing his slower balls and yorkers at will under pressure. From a batsman’s point of view, it is difficult to pick the ball up early out of his hand due to his unusual action and excellent deception when bowling his different deliveries.

It was interesting listening to Virat Kohli in a press conference recently talking about his team maintaining its composure and controlling its emotions in big games. What that tells me is that he has enormous confidence in his side and if India plays any team on skill alone, keeping control of its emotions, then he would back his side to beat anyone in the world.

One of the keys to winning big games is each player being able to disregard all the outside distractions and focus on his role in the team. There will be many distractions when India lines up against Pakistan in the final, with a manic crowd likely to be out of control in the lead up and on match day as the hype for this match will be huge.

India is in a great place and must be favoured to retain the ICC Champions Trophy but no-one should discount Pakistan. It is a mercurial team and this tournament has thrown up so many upsets so far.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/champions-trophy/news/420704

 

[Napa]

Great article with some nice insights, thanks for posting.

 

[captain crook]

Even I have the same feeling. It will be a romantic moment if Pakistan cinches the title, even after being #8, especially against the arch rivals.

 

[Suleiman]

Bittersweet to hear this from M Hussey.

He is the guy who denied us a final spot in another tournament few years ago.

Not to mention he is the exact type of player we need in our middle order instead of the usual culprits who show off when the game is already won and then disappear when you need them most, then show up for press conference with "credit to opposition, alhamdullilah I played my natural game, feel blessed"

 

[kingusama92]

It does.

Beating your arch-rival (and the only team to beat you) in a hotly contested final is special.

Which means India will win by 250 runs.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

Exactly what I have been saying. It is our moment.

 

[MRSN]

whenever I hear his name It reminds me of painful ending in the 2010 T20 wc. That was our cup for taking man.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Even I have the same feeling. It will be a romantic moment if Pakistan cinches the title, even after being #8, especially against the arch rivals.

Agreed. Pakistan winning will be a romantic moment, and something most neutral fans would love. India winning will be like the local bully getting one more excuse to boast. If there are Cricket Gods..they must be favoring Pakistan.

 

[Madplayer]

I feel the entire cricketing world, except the Indians, wants Pakistan to beat India. Although some of these cricket pundits might try to stay neutral to be in the good books of India, i feel they want Pakistan to beat them. There are undertones if you listen or read carfefully what they are saying.

 

[Mamoon]

I feel the entire cricketing world, except the Indians, wants Pakistan to beat India. Although some of these cricket pundits might try to stay neutral to be in the good books of India, i feel they want Pakistan to beat them. There are undertones if you listen or read carfefully what they are saying.

Which isn't surprising because neutrals generally tend to root for the underdogs.

 

[Madplayer]

Which isn't surprising because neutrals generally tend to root for the underdogs.

True. Hope it doesnt turn out to be similar to the Wc15 final.

 

[Sirris]

whenever I hear his name It reminds me of painful ending in the 2010 T20 wc. That was our cup for taking man.

Same here.

I have been suffering from Micheal Hussey phobia ever since.

 

[ExplicitAI]

Couldn't really relate to the Hussey phobia given I didn't grew up watching the 2010 T20 WC but Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli hurt me the most! But yeah coming back to this we are a mercurial team who can play disastrous cricket but then turn around and annihilate anyone. Hopefully we didn't run out of steam against India and literally pummel them.

 

[Sirris]

Couldn't really relate to the Hussey phobia given I didn't grew up watching the 2010 T20 WC but Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli hurt me the most! But yeah coming back to this we are a mercurial team who can play disastrous cricket but then turn around and annihilate anyone. Hopefully we didn't run out of steam against India and literally pummel them.

I saw the whole match live fully engrossed in it. It was an amazing batting performance by pak team and I felt great about it. Bowling did a great job too.

Then came the final over.

It felt like as if it was me who was getting smashed rather than ajmal. All the hard work and brilliant performance put in by Pakistani team shattered by one over. I think it were 20+ runs to defend in 6 balls. After every hit I still had hope Hussey will miss one soon.

He never did!

With each delivery my beacon of hope got hit by an incoming canonball. In the end I felt as if my beacon of hope had collapsed upon me and left my whole body broken.

From that day onwards whenever I hear the name Hussey I get triggerd. I just can't imagine him being anything another than a ruthless barbarian, the Genghis Khan of cricket.

Maybe that's how the minnows feel about Shahid afridi.

 

[English August]

I feel the entire cricketing world, except the Indians, wants Pakistan to beat India. Although some of these cricket pundits might try to stay neutral to be in the good books of India, i feel they want Pakistan to beat them. There are undertones if you listen or read carfefully what they are saying.

Tall poppy syndrome. People love to hate the top dog.

 

[ExplicitAI]

I saw the whole match live fully engrossed in it. It was an amazing batting performance by pak team and I felt great about it. Bowling did a great job too.

Then came the final over.

It felt like as if it was me who was getting smashed rather than ajmal. All the hard work and brilliant performance put in by Pakistani team shattered by one over. I think it were 20+ runs to defend in 6 balls. After every hit I still had hope Hussey will miss one soon.

He never did!

With each delivery my beacon of hope got hit by an incoming canonball. In the end I felt as if my beacon of hope had collapsed upon me and left my whole body broken.

From that day onwards whenever I hear the name Hussey I get triggerd. I just can't imagine him being anything another than a ruthless barbarian, the Genghis Khan of cricket.

Maybe that's how the minnows feel about Shahid afridi.

Lol first time I felt like that was when Kohli scored 183, then the CT 2017 game against India in the group stage has taken the number 1 spot for hurting me the most )

 

[BA56]

Speaking of soul crushing performances, too young for the 99 World Cup Final? Pakistan cricket has never been the same for me since. Everything was set up for Pakistan to win that one, we had by far the best bowling attack going into the final, our batting was firing on all cylinders and we were the favorites to win it. Australia had barely scraped through to the finals after a ridiculous South African choke. It looked like everything had lined up, because that South African team always had Pakistans number and Pakistan had literally destroyed Australia earlier in the tournament.

And then that fateful afternoon everything fell apart, the glorious team of the 90's was never the same again.

 

[New Yorker]

Speaking of soul crushing performances, too young for the 99 World Cup Final? Pakistan cricket has never been the same for me since. Everything was set up for Pakistan to win that one, we had by far the best bowling attack going into the final, our batting was firing on all cylinders and we were the favorites to win it. Australia had barely scraped through to the finals after a ridiculous South African choke. It looked like everything had lined up, because that South African team always had Pakistans number and Pakistan had literally destroyed Australia earlier in the tournament.

And then that fateful afternoon everything fell apart, the glorious team of the 90's was never the same again.

Yes, WC 99 was the one Pakistan should have won, WC 92 the one it happened to win.
Australia always had our number after that too.

 

[Mamoon]

In a parallel universe, Pakistan could have won 4 consecutive World Cups: 87, 92, 96, 99.

 

[Tusker]

In a parallel universe, Pakistan could have won 4 consecutive World Cups: 87, 92, 96, 99.

Man you are in some brutal mode ...

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Yes, WC 99 was the one Pakistan should have won, WC 92 the one it happened to win.
Australia always had our number after that too.

Aussies had everyone's number after that. (the Hobart test and the ODI final) Although we did beat ATG Aussie ODI at their peak in their home

Our team of Mid-70s 80s had to collide with the great WIs

And our team of Mid-90s 00s had to collide with the ATG Aussies

Anyways, past is past.

If our noob bowlers/batters manage to beat India, it will be something magical for our Cricket.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

In a parallel universe, Pakistan could have won 4 consecutive World Cups: 87, 92, 96, 99.

Add '11 SC to your list as well.

You know, DRS tampering by your board and all that

 

[Justcrazy]

In a parallel universe, Pakistan could have won 4 consecutive World Cups: 87, 92, 96, 99.

87 Pakistan was best opportunity.

92 , luck involved .

96 , One more good opportunity , but I think Team selection was not that good.

99 , had very good bowling , as well as lower order which bailed them down on many occassions, hiding the fragile top order

 

[PakLFC]

It is a typical tournament for Pak so far. A crap start with a severe bashing followed by three wins most would have said we'd lose to. I have a good feeling as well.

 

[Mamoon]

Add '11 SC to your list as well.

You know, DRS tampering by your board and all that

Yes, and they also spread butter on the palms of our players so that they drop a dozen catches.

 

[Sirris]

87 Pakistan was best opportunity.

92 , luck involved .

96 , One more good opportunity , but I think Team selection was not that good.

99 , had very good bowling , as well as lower order which bailed them down on many occassions, hiding the fragile top order

Yes, and they also spread butter on the palms of our players so that they drop a dozen catches.

Does this conclude that we are undercover chokers too? Just did a good job at hiding it?

Hmm...

 

[Mamoon]

Does this conclude that we are undercover chokers too? Just did a good job at hiding it?

Hmm...

The much acclaimed 90's generation of Pakistani cricketers were renowned chokers. They regularly failed to deliver under pressure in both Tests and ODIs. Not to mention, the team was strife with match-fixing and the Captain was leading the way.

The 1992 World Cup was a combination of luck, fluke and strong leadership of Imran. Once he retired, the chokers that were supposed to carry his legacy forward wilted under pressure.

 

[Markhor]

Speaking of soul crushing performances, too young for the 99 World Cup Final? Pakistan cricket has never been the same for me since. Everything was set up for Pakistan to win that one, we had by far the best bowling attack going into the final, our batting was firing on all cylinders and we were the favorites to win it. Australia had barely scraped through to the finals after a ridiculous South African choke. It looked like everything had lined up, because that South African team always had Pakistans number and Pakistan had literally destroyed Australia earlier in the tournament.

And then that fateful afternoon everything fell apart, the glorious team of the 90's was never the same again.

99 final was definitely soul crushing but I didn't feel we were firing on all cylinders at all. The format was quite generous to us given we lost three matches in that tournament to South Africa, Bangladesh and India.

That defeat to Bangladesh was galling - the nature of those run-outs especially look fishy in hindsight, not to detract from Bangladesh's performance but we were practically giving our wickets away !

The batting was carried by Anwar and Inzamam, with Moin and Akram providing some late order fireworks. Malik was past it as was Ijaz. Razzaq and Afridi weren't reliable batsmen. Australia went on a 92-like run and after the South Africa last over drama it felt they had the momentum.

Wasim should've known better too. Playing for Lancashire he'll have seen countless teams batting first bundled out for low scores in the Natwest Trophy Finals at Lord's in the 90s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_NatWest_Trophy#Final
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_NatWest_Trophy#Final
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_NatWest_Trophy#Final
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_NatWest_Trophy#Final

99 team was defined by its bowling and all-rounders which were world-class, but I don't feel that was as complete a side as the 1996 team which really should've won that year. That side had everything, with the strongest batting lineup of the decade.

 

[Pak number 1]

I saw the whole match live fully engrossed in it. It was an amazing batting performance by pak team and I felt great about it. Bowling did a great job too.

Then came the final over.

It felt like as if it was me who was getting smashed rather than ajmal. All the hard work and brilliant performance put in by Pakistani team shattered by one over. I think it were 20+ runs to defend in 6 balls. After every hit I still had hope Hussey will miss one soon.

He never did!

With each delivery my beacon of hope got hit by an incoming canonball. In the end I felt as if my beacon of hope had collapsed upon me and left my whole body broken.

From that day onwards whenever I hear the name Hussey I get triggerd. I just can't imagine him being anything another than a ruthless barbarian, the Genghis Khan of cricket.

Maybe that's how the minnows feel about Shahid afridi.

Remember that game like it was yesterday. Was devastated at the time.

18 were required from the final over:
First ball Mitchell Johnson 1 run. This was followed by two 6's from Hussey. Then 4 and another 6. Game over.

 

[jnaveen1980]

99 world cup .. one gotta be angry with Pak one reason lol. 161 all out against BD.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65221.html

This match helped BD gets its test status sooner than they deserved.

 

[Sadevdesai]

There are many explayers on both sides of the fence. The Indians are favored because they are Top rated Team. Pakistan is considered because they are extremely unpredictable, a sticker they proudly ware, and can defeat any Team on their day. So this is like irresistible force meeting unmovable object .... what would give ?????

 

[msb314]

I saw the whole match live fully engrossed in it. It was an amazing batting performance by pak team and I felt great about it. Bowling did a great job too.

Then came the final over.


It felt like as if it was me who was getting smashed rather than ajmal. All the hard work and brilliant performance put in by Pakistani team shattered by one over. I think it were 20+ runs to defend in 6 balls. After every hit I still had hope Hussey will miss one soon.

He never did!

With each delivery my beacon of hope got hit by an incoming canonball. In the end I felt as if my beacon of hope had collapsed upon me and left my whole body broken.

From that day onwards whenever I hear the name Hussey I get triggerd. I just can't imagine him being anything another than a ruthless barbarian, the Genghis Khan of cricket.

Maybe that's how the minnows feel about Shahid afridi.

We had to defend 18 off the last over.

 

[On_the_up]

Certainly felt like that today.

From wkt off a no ball, to the benificiary scoring the MOM 100, to countless missed run outs, to hits landing in no-mans land, to balls hitting the stumps and failing to knock the bails óver, to getting Kohli out a ball after being dropped, to an 18 year old demanding a review and getting it right.

Certainly felt like there was a greater force at work today wanting Pakistan to win.

 

[Madplayer]

Certainly felt like that today.

From wkt off a no ball, to the benificiary scoring the MOM 100, to countless missed run outs, to hits landing in no-mans land, to balls hitting the stumps and failing to knock the bails óver, to getting Kohli out a ball after being dropped, to an 18 year old demanding a review and getting it right.

Certainly felt like there was a greater force at work today wanting Pakistan to win.

You forgot the most interesting one. Ball hitting hafeez' stumps but bails didnt come off neither they lit up. Lol

 

[Sirris]

You forgot the most interesting one. Ball hitting hafeez' stumps but bails didnt come off neither they lit up. Lol

I call bail fixing!

 

[kaifmazhar]

Mikey sensed it much earlier than anyone else and that's why he was so confident of a Pakistan victory a day before the match