1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship Final

[Trichromatic]

Watch it on sonyliv 

 

https://www.sonyliv.com/sports/the-blue-revolution-1500000635/-final-pakistan-vs-india-1000042147?watch=true

 

Some observations - 

1. Played on good sunny day (temp 30 degress C) at MCG. 

2. Tony Greig said that it was good batting surface with bit of bounce and movement.

3. Gavaskar and Miandad pulled a prak of fake toss - they went to pitch and flipped nothing

 

 

4. Prize money was 5 lakhs rupees. Considered big then.

5. Couldn't believe that this was not out. No fumble by fielder Amarnath and yet batsman - Ramiz Raja was able to reach back to crease

 

 

Amarnath threw it high, rather than flat.

 

 

6. Mudassar Nazar who score 14 off 39 - effectively very defensive batsman, chased such wide ball. 

 

 

7. Imran Khan nicked it big when he was early at crease against Chetan Sharma and stood his ground. Ball was nowhere near shoulder and given not out even with deflection. He later went on to score 35.

 

 

8. Match had highest attendance record for teams not involving Australia

 

9. Miandad nicked one back to keeper. WK Vishwanath appealed, but Amarnath hardly moved. Seems like he lacked cricketing awareness that day. It was clear edge as seen on replay, yet commentators said that it was enthusiasm of Vishwanath because Imran was given not out. Even Miandad looked back which usually happens with batsmen when the edge one. It was same umpire who gave Imran not out. Score was 4-49. Pakistan should have been 6 down by then. Miandad scored 48.

 

10. Look at their shirts.

 

 

11. L Sivaramakrishnan was on hattrick here. 3rd batsman went for long hit and Gavaskar was way inside the rope, instead of being at catching position - lack of awareness. Although Gavaskar did manage to run out Imran by great direct hit earlier. Hattrick ball was hit for a six.

 

 

12. Lack of stumps mic makes it bit odd.

 

13. Vishawanath - keeper looked like angry young man of team.

[Trichromatic]

14. Players boozing openly

 

 

 

Doubt we will see something like this in modern day games.

 

15. Gavaskar's last match as captain. Ending on a high.

 

[Trichromatic]

It seems that Indian and Pakistani players had good friendly relationship back then. 

[Jay]

42 minutes ago, Trichromatic said:

It seems that Indian and Pakistani players had good friendly relationship back then. 

They do now with kohli tbh. Kohli is considered Pakistani by many. He is more Pakistani than Indian according to some fans. 

 

 

[sandeep]

This tournament, is my earliest memory of watching cricket.  The 'funky' camera angles, the quacking ducks, the super green outfields.  Cricket played in Australia looked magical to me then.  

 

I remember the super slow batting starts by India, and being obsessed with the run-rate.  And my dad telling me that a run-rate of 2 to 3, was good enough for first 15 overs - and it just not making sense to me.  The odd game where it jumped above 3 and close to 4, I remember getting excited.  

 

India were dominant this tournament.  And Sadanand Vishwanath was a lightning bug behind the wicket.  Srikanth was a fearless opener, especially compared to Shastri's dour defensive approach.  

 

I remember seeing the entire Indian team pile on top of that car as they drove it around on the ground, and Gavaskar's 'shock' announcement that he was done as captain - as a naive kid, I was mystified why he was quitting the captaincy. 

 

I absolutely detest the venal cricket boards of England and Australia - but have to admit, watching cricket, the TV production teams really are the best when it comes to those 2 places.  Always have been.  I mean, Indian cricket coverage has improved massively since then, but its still not where it should be.  

[sandeep]

3 hours ago, Trichromatic said:

It seems that Indian and Pakistani players had good friendly relationship back then. 

Players always have had good relationships.  Do so even now.  You'd be surprised but so have military personnel.  

[rangeelaraja]

I was a 2 yr toddler so never watched this series but....

 

I heard that success went in the head of L Siva after this tournament, he became an uncontrollable alcoholic ( in the words of Ravi, even the wild Aussies of the 80s were no match for his appetite for drinking hard liquor ). 

 

On topic of " good relations" between India and Pak players in the 80s - all this is smokescreen. 

 

There are few sophisticated people like Zaheer Abbass who are apolitical but Imran Khan was still a down right filthy hypocrite scumbag even then.

 

I remember reading somewhere that he said India Pakistan should settle Kashmir over a cricket series ( he tried to laugh it off later ) but he has always had a jehadi talibani mindset and utter hatred for India.

[TheWall]

And Shastri won an Audi...

[Serpico]

Shastri ji was so lean at the time