There comes a moment in everyone's career when they recognize a thing done in haste for it comes out and haunts them forever. For Mike Gatting, that moment was when he played that ill-fated reverse sweep during the final of the 1987 World Cup, against arch-rivals Australia.
Date: 8 November, 1987, Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
England and Australia, the oldest rivals in cricket, were up against each other in another battle, and this time it wasn't for the prized Ashes trophy the reward was probably higher, the chance to be crowned as the world's best limited overs team. England had the upperhand, having won the last two Ashes meetings. On the other hand, the Australians were rebuilding, having lost the aura that had made them world beaters.
From the crowd's perspective, it wasn't the ideal final as well; co-hosts and pre-tournament favorites, India and Pakistan, met their waterloo in the semi-finals.
Come the finals day, England, who had stopped India's march, werent just battling Australia, they were up against the Kolkata crowd, who were rooting for Allan Border and his men, too. Batting first, Australia rode on David Boons patient 75 and some late hitting from Mike Veletta, who made a 31-ball 45, to finish on a highly competitive score of 253. England started badly, losing Tim Robinson for a duck in the first over, trapped leg before wicket by Craig McDermott. Graham Gooch and Bill Athey stabilized the innings, adding 66-runs for the second wicket and setting up the perfect platform for skipper, Mike Gatting.
The England skipper was in a rich vein of form, getting runs on a consistent basis, and more importantly, at a rate that would put the opponents on the back-seat. He started off in the same vein and quickly threatened to take the game away from Australia's grasp. It needed something special from the Australian ranks or a moment of madness from Gatting himself, for the match to turnaround.
The turning point was to arrive with England cruising along at 135/2. Gatting's Australian counterpart, Allan Border, had the ball in his hands and drifted one well down leg-side. It would have been a wide had Gatting let it go, but for some unforeseen reason, he decided to play the cute looking reverse sweep. He wasn't in any control over the shot; the ball lobbed off his shoulder and a gleeful wicket-keeper, Greg Dyer, latched onto the opportunity. Former Australia captain, Ian Chappell, called it "a brainlock, a moment of madness".
The game had turned decisively. Allan Lamb did his best to resurrect England with a fighting 45, but the momentum had been wrestled away completely from the hot favourites. Steve Waugh kept his nerves to deliver the final sucker-punch, dismissing the dangerous Phillip Defrietas for 17. England finished at 246/8, 7 runs shy of victory and the World Champions tag.
Mike Gatting's mistake hadn't just cost England a World Cup victory. England's champions psyche also went down with his ill-
fated reverse sweep. Australia would go on to regain the Ashes in 1989, beating their nemesis by a 4-0 margin. The new champions had well and truly arrived.
Date: 8 November, 1987, Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
England and Australia, the oldest rivals in cricket, were up against each other in another battle, and this time it wasn't for the prized Ashes trophy the reward was probably higher, the chance to be crowned as the world's best limited overs team. England had the upperhand, having won the last two Ashes meetings. On the other hand, the Australians were rebuilding, having lost the aura that had made them world beaters.
From the crowd's perspective, it wasn't the ideal final as well; co-hosts and pre-tournament favorites, India and Pakistan, met their waterloo in the semi-finals.
Come the finals day, England, who had stopped India's march, werent just battling Australia, they were up against the Kolkata crowd, who were rooting for Allan Border and his men, too. Batting first, Australia rode on David Boons patient 75 and some late hitting from Mike Veletta, who made a 31-ball 45, to finish on a highly competitive score of 253. England started badly, losing Tim Robinson for a duck in the first over, trapped leg before wicket by Craig McDermott. Graham Gooch and Bill Athey stabilized the innings, adding 66-runs for the second wicket and setting up the perfect platform for skipper, Mike Gatting.
The England skipper was in a rich vein of form, getting runs on a consistent basis, and more importantly, at a rate that would put the opponents on the back-seat. He started off in the same vein and quickly threatened to take the game away from Australia's grasp. It needed something special from the Australian ranks or a moment of madness from Gatting himself, for the match to turnaround.
The turning point was to arrive with England cruising along at 135/2. Gatting's Australian counterpart, Allan Border, had the ball in his hands and drifted one well down leg-side. It would have been a wide had Gatting let it go, but for some unforeseen reason, he decided to play the cute looking reverse sweep. He wasn't in any control over the shot; the ball lobbed off his shoulder and a gleeful wicket-keeper, Greg Dyer, latched onto the opportunity. Former Australia captain, Ian Chappell, called it "a brainlock, a moment of madness".
The game had turned decisively. Allan Lamb did his best to resurrect England with a fighting 45, but the momentum had been wrestled away completely from the hot favourites. Steve Waugh kept his nerves to deliver the final sucker-punch, dismissing the dangerous Phillip Defrietas for 17. England finished at 246/8, 7 runs shy of victory and the World Champions tag.
Mike Gatting's mistake hadn't just cost England a World Cup victory. England's champions psyche also went down with his ill-
fated reverse sweep. Australia would go on to regain the Ashes in 1989, beating their nemesis by a 4-0 margin. The new champions had well and truly arrived.
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