Here is an article on the same topic.
Sri Lanka steal one from Waugh's playbook
Sri Lanka's judicious decision to "rest" three frontline bowlers drew
criticism from some observers, primarily Australian.
Former captain Ian Chappell took the lead, calling it "ridiculous and
disgraceful." Chappell told an Indian cable TV channel that the matter
should be investigated by the ICC's anti-corruption czar Paul Congdon.
If anything, Chappell's self-righteousness is misplaced. If there is
one country that has used non-critical matches to gain an advantage at
the latter stages, it is Australia.
In a group game against the West Indies at the 1999 World Cup, Steve
Waugh's men laboured for 40.4 overs to overhaul West Indies' modest
target of 110.
The "go slow" materialised because Australia, late in their innings,
became virtually assured of gaining second spot in their group ladder
by overhauling the West Indies' run rate for all matches.
To do this they only had to score a victory target of 111 in 47.2
overs and captain Steve Waugh felt the target was in hand by the 28th
over when Australia were 92 for 4. At this point Waugh switched his
focus to rival teams.
Waugh's priorities were: 1). Getting the West Indies into the Super
Sixes because Australia would then take in two bonus points for
beating another side who made the playoffs. 2). Attempt to keep New
Zealand out of the playoffs because Australia would then advance
without a bonus point given they failed to beat the other sides who
made it, Pakistan or New Zealand.
In the end, the Kiwis had to bat at breakneck speed versus Scotland to
avert the Aussie trap.
Chappell and his fellow critics may have conveniently forgotten it
yesterday, but the Aussie attempt at gamesmanship drew far more
criticism from independent observers. Matthew Engel, the editor of
Wisden, wrote in The Guardian: "The result was a dreadful and shameful
game of cricket... call it immorality if you like, or call it
professionalism, but don't call it cricket."
In the London Daily Telegraph, cricket writer Peter Deeley wrote:
"This was a poor advertisement for the World Cup. Deeley said it was a
"drab contest. The crowd heckled their discontent as the game
generated into a farce in its latter stages. It all sat uneasily with
the concept of a carnival of cricket," he wrote.
The Mirror's Mike Walters said: "Steve Waugh led a scandalous
Australian go-slow", noting that 22,000 fans were chanting "what a
load of rubbish". The Daily Mail's Peter Johnson thundered:
"Australia's blatant gamesmanship reduced the World Cup to a farce.
The spirit of the carnival of cricket evaporated."
By comparison, Sri Lanka's decision was not an attempt to undermine
any one team as the Aussies had tried but simply an effort to preserve
one's limited resources. The World Cup is not a popularity contest!
What matters is not who wins a battle but who wins the war. - (D.A)
