MOST sportspersons are superstitious even if they may not admit being so. They have a ‘lucky’ shirt or trousers or bat or racquet or something that they consider ‘lucky’ and brings them success.

John McEnroe, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova don’t touch the lines in between points. Cricketers are known to put their left leg guard before the right one or walk on the right side of their partner while going out to bat or enter the field last if they are fielding.

I liked to wear something new on the day I expected to bat. It could be a tee shirt or shorts or socks, anything but new. Ask any sportsperson who is superstitious and he/she will say that it is better to be superstitious than sorry later for not having followed a superstition.

If the New Zealand players and their supporters are superstitious, they too will be nervous that the final is being played in Melbourne. All the matches that the Kiwis have played so far have been in New Zealand, and now, here they are for the most important match of their lives and they are going to be playing in the cauldron that they are unfamiliar with.

The MCG is probably the biggest ground in the world and the boundaries are long unlike those in New Zealand where some of the boundaries are as short as the ones on the gymkhanas of Mumbai. The shots that went for sixes there could well be out caught in the deep at the MCG.

The ball will also not swing in the air as much as it does in New Zealand, though the bounce will be greater than on the Kiwi grounds. New Zealand’s strength has been their new ball attack of Trent Boult and Tim Southee supported by Corey Anderson and Matt Henry. They could well struggle at the MCG.

The one man who can make a difference is Brendon McCullum for he can inspire his team not just with his batting but also his leadership. If he just reins in his batting, he could make a more substantial contribution than he has done so far.

Man to man, the Australians look better on paper, but cricket games, especially the finals, are not played on paper but in the mind, and the team that is stronger mentally will come through.

New Zealand have shown they have the nerve with their thrilling win over the South Africans in the semi-final. Can they hold it against the ‘big brother’?

By Special Arrangement for Dawn

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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