I told you what would happen, says elated Matthews

Greg Matthews, the former Australian all rounder who is in India as a radio commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has proved to be extremely adept in correctly forecasting the result of a game.

In an exclusive interview with CricInfo on Wednesday, Mathews had made some startling predictions for the first Test between India and Australia. Matthews had predicted that Mark Waugh would pick up three wickets with his offspinners in India's second innings. He also said that Ricky Ponting would take a vital catch.

On both accounts he was dead right. Mark Waugh in a magical spell produced the vital breakthroughs that turned the Test in favour of the tourists. And it was the remarkable display in the field by Ponting that proved to be the turning point of the match. Ponting took a diving catch at midwicket that deflected off the shoulder of Justin Langer at short leg to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar.

Matthews, now 41, also predicted that Australia would win the Test series 2-0 and the One-Day series 4-1. Australia has already gone one up in the Test series.

As soon as Mark Waugh took his third wicket, CricInfo caught up with Greg Matthews and he was more than elated. "I told ya it would happen" he said. Overhearing the conversation, Mike Coward, an Australian journalist was amazed at the accuracy of Matthews' prediction.

Matthews was ecstatic at his revelation and walked down to the wicket and posed for photographers as soon as the Indian innings folded up. He was visibly excited as well and could not control his joy.

Several former cricketers present at the stadium were surprised as well at the former Australian cricketer's remarkable foresight. Karsan Ghavri, the former Indian allrounder was surprised at the prediction and commented hilariously, "Is he a magician or an astrologer?" Not far away was another former Indian cricketer Ashok Mankad who too was surprised at Matthews' correct prediction. He jokingly told former Indian cricketer Eknath Solkar to have a session with Matthews and ask him about his life ahead.

All said and done, it was a remarkable prediction given the fact that Mark Waugh had not even bowled in the first innings. Moreover, Australia has already gone one up in the three match Test series. What still remains to be seen is whether his remaining predictions on the Test series and the one dayers - as well as other individual predictions - come true.