Published: Sep 21, 2015, 12:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 21, 2015, 12:48 PM (IST)
Australia‘s ICC Cricket World Cup 2015-winning One-Day International (ODI) team has been recognised with a nomination in the ‘Sport Australia Hall of Fame’ dubbed ‘The Don’ in remembrance of the great Sir Donald Bradman, who was the first athlete to claim the award. Australia’s cricket team beat New Zealand in the final of the World Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in front of an enthralled 93,000+ home audience to lift the coveted silverware for the fifth time in history. However, the cricket tea,m have stiff competition for the hall of fame title. ALSO READ: ICC World Cup 2015 significantly boosted economies of co-hosts AUS and NZ
The ODI team will vie with Australian Women’s netball team, who also won the World Cup. The Australian football team is also in contention for winning the AFC Asia Cup. Cyclist Anna Meares, swimmer Emily Seebohm, paralympian Kurt Fearnley, NFL recruit Jarryd Hayne, golfer Jason Day, surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, ironman Shannon Eckstein and ironwoman Mirinda Carfrae and surfers Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson are the other nominees, as reported by cricket.com.au.
According to a Sport Australia Hall of Fame authority, the cricket team’s case for the title is strengthened by the fact that Australia put on a brave fight, despite the tragic loss of Phillip Hughes in the same season, which left most of the Australian team members torn apart in agony. “(Austraia’s ODI World Cup preparations) could have easily been derailed following the tragic death of opener Phillip Hughes in November 2014. However, the team rallied and went on to an emphatic victory, inspired by their ‘little mate’,” the statement said.
