The Reliance Carnival in Retrospect
From corporate boardrooms to street side vendors, from classrooms to living rooms and across the media – it was the case of a nation obsessed.
‘India Today’ the widely circulated fortnightly magazine commented ‘the Reliance Cup has sent the subcontinent into suspended animation … what else, after all, could have got Bofors off the from page and out of people’s minds?’’
Precisely, headline sweeping issues like the IPKF intervention in Jaffna, the unprecedented stock market crash, the Himalayan car rally –were all inundated by the month long cricket festival. The stage was set for much action and drama. Glittering performances and nail biting results had become the order to the day.
June 21- 1975, June 23- 1979, June 25 -1983 and November 8 -1987 ; the final days of the four world cup cricket tournament shall always remain etched in the memories of cricket lovers, the world over. But in emotional terms, the fourth World Cup was leaps ahead of the earlier three.
The event has ended, but the nostalgia shall linger on for a long time to come. After all , who can forget the humbling of the reigning and the former world champs on the very second day of the carnival, the blitzkrieg 181 of Viv Richards against Sri Lanka, the valiant effort of Dave Houghton’s marathon century against New Zealand, Quadir’s last over magic against Windies, Walsh’s true cricketing spirit but for which history would have been different, Gavaskar’s maiden instant cricket ton, the remorse filled faces of Kapil and Imran and then the moment of triumph and jubilation for the Kangaroos.
Allan Border, the captain of the new champions, is the most experienced one-day campaigner in the world today. With 159 matches to his credit, in his side none but him had ever played in a World Cup before, That did not dampen their spirits the slightest. Infact, , that heightened their determination and they will have to prove. Branded as the team destined to be an ‘also ran’, the Kangaroos emerged glorious by keeping their feet firmly planted on the ground and their heads cool. Opportunities came – and they seized all to take away the Reliance Cup. Border’s men always lived up to the confidence placed in them.
The opening pair of Geoff Marsh-David Boon was, by far the best and most consistent in the cup and the factor most instrumental to their victory campaign.
At an average of 60 plus in 8 games, they laid the ideal foundation for the others to build on. David Boon, with his individual performance of five 50s turned the course of many a match. Both, the Aussies and the Pommies were second in their pools after the league matches and came back fighting from behind to make the final an ‘Ashes’ affair.