Will India use the numbers game to halt Australia's run?

The World Cup final has most people thinking that Australia are the odds-on favourites. However, a closer look at the numbers suggests that the two teams are quite evenly matched. If you are wondering how Australia can be stopped after 16 consecutive one-day international wins, remember that it was India who halted their run of 16 consecutive Test victories in 2001.

Cricket is a funny game and has more statistics than any other sport in the world. West Indies, the champions of the first (1975) and second (1979) World Cups, remained unbeaten in both tournaments for ten consecutive matches till they lost the title to India in 1983. However, before losing the final at Lord's, their run of unbeaten games was halted - by India, in Manchester, June 10th 1983.

That was India's maiden victory over a Test-playing country in a World Cup and also the first defeat for the West Indies in a World Cup.

Now Australia are unbeaten in World Cups since 23rd May 1999 when they lost to Pakistan by ten runs at Headingley and are unbeaten in 17 matches (7 in 1999 & 10 in 2003).

With Australia as reigning world champions, India might repeat history to halt Australia's world record of consecutive victories.

In my opinion, both teams are evenly matched but India is a more balanced team (in batting & bowling) while Australia is a bit stronger in bowling. It is interesting that a pace trio in both teams dominates the bowling department.

For Australia, Brett Lee (20), Glenn McGrath (18) and Andy Bichel (15) have taken a total of 53 wickets while India's trio of Zaheer Khan (18) Srinath (16) and Ashish Nehra (15) have taken 49 wickets in the current World Cup.

While Australian reserves have stepped up admirably to replace players, it is more interesting that India's bench strength is such that Anil Kumble & Ajit Agarkar with 474 ODI wickets between them could not get a proper chance. India's success with seam has meant that Harbhajan Singh has taken only eight wickets.

In batting, for Australia every batsman has played one or two useful innings while for India, Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly have dominated their batting. Rahul Dravid played useful knocks in two matches and youngsters Yuvraj Singh & Muhammad Kaif also played their roles in important games.

In this World Cup Australia have won ten out of ten matches played while India have won nine out of ten. Australia have comprehensively defeated all three Asian teams, all former world champions, Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka (twice) in this World Cup.

So if India win, it will be ten victories for both teams and if it's a victory for Australia, then people may well call them the `Brazil of Cricket'. I think this is the second time in eight World Cups that both finalists are so well balanced, as the records show. The earlier instance was when West Indies met Australia in the 1975 final.

Can Australia's current run of consecutive ODI wins be halted by India, in Johannesburg, March 23rd 2003?