Published: Mar 29, 2015, 08:38 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 29, 2015, 08:46 PM (IST)
Australia clinched their fifth world title when they beat New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). While the fanfare was quite evident in the MCG, it was very quiet on the streets of Melbourne on Sunday night. Nishad Pai Vaidya writes about the fanfare inside and outside the MCG in the hours after the Australian victory.
The streets were nearly deserted as one walked out of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) about three hours after Australia lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. For a country that had won the World Cup, Australia seemed very quiet in the hours after the game. Coming from the subcontinent, one would have expected a carnival like atmosphere, but it was quite the opposite. There were a few cars on the streets, taxis searching for customers and the odd bars and restaurants open. It was quite in contrast to the last World Cup, when Mumbai’s streets were filled with people to celebrate the victory. FULL SCORECARD: Australia vs New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final at MCG
Through the World Cup, the buzz surrounding the enormity of the tournament was missing in Australia. Being a sporting country, which enjoys success across different games, a big event seemed commonplace. On the other hand, New Zealand soaked in the cricket craze as they believed in the team that could go all the way. But, in the days leading up to the final, there was some palpable craze in Melbourne. The New Zealanders had flown in and some of the Australian fans also turned up in numbers. The fact that a record 93,013 attended the final shows how keenly this game was watched. It beat the count registered during the India-South Africa game at the MCG earlier in the tournament, which was around 87,000. Full updates: Australia vs New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final
Clarke praised the crowd for they waited for Australia to lift the trophy. He also complimented them for the support through the whole tournament. In fact, he also went on to add that doing the lap of honour was an important part of their celebrations. “I think that was really important that we went out of our way to thank the supporters. The support we’ve had throughout the whole tournament has been fantastic, and I do believe that’s played a big part in us having success,” he said. But, off the field, there didn’t seem to be any celebrations in store. Aus vs NZ, final: Michael Clarke scores 58th ODI half-century
On the way back from the MCG, one of the cab drivers quipped that it may be because it is Sunday night and that people have to turn up for work the next day, that has prevented them from coming onto the streets and basking in glory. Possible! But, come Monday and there is a celebration in store for the Australian team and the public in Melbourne. On Monday morning, the team will assemble at the Federation square and share the excitement with their fans. Having witnessed previous celebrations on video, such as the one after the Ashes 2013, one hopes for a very good turnout, for this Australian team has done something extraordinary in the months following an emotional moment! READ: Brendon McCullum should have played a bigger role in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
