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Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody has reminisced about Australia’s 1999 ODI World Cup victory as his team, the Oval Invincibles, gears up for the Hundred 2024 final. Under Moody’s coaching, the Invincibles have performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament and will compete in the final at Lord’s Cricket Ground on August 18.
The final will see the Invincibles face either the Southern Brave or Birmingham Phoenix, who are set to battle it out in the Eliminator. As the Invincibles prepare for the final, their head coach, Tom Moody, reflected on the 1999 World Cup final, which also took place at Lord’s.
On June 20, 1999, Australia and Pakistan clashed in the final. Despite being strong favorites, Australia had a shaky start, suffering defeats to New Zealand and Pakistan in the early stages. However, they made a remarkable comeback to secure a place in the final.
In the final, Australia lost the toss and was asked to bowl first. Led by Shane Warne, the Australian bowling attack dismissed Pakistan for just 132 in 39 overs. Warne took 4 wickets, while Glenn McGrath and Tom Moody each claimed 2. Paul Reiffel and Damien Fleming also contributed with one wicket apiece.
During the chase, Adam Gilchrist’s aggressive 54 played a crucial role in dismantling Pakistan’s defense. The Australian batting lineup successfully completed the run chase in just 20.1 overs, securing an 8-wicket victory and clinching the World Cup trophy.
Ricky Ponting was the songmaster, and he delivered it on my shoulders, right in the middle – Tom Moody
Tom Moody, who played a pivotal yet understated role in Australia’s 1999 World Cup triumph, reflected on the victory in a recent interview. He described the team’s situation as a high-stakes challenge, noting that their exceptional performance was crucial in securing the trophy. Moody also shared that the team enjoyed an extended celebration in the dressing room following their win.
“We came in as favorites, but we played poorly for the first half of the tournament,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “We basically had to win seven in a row to be crowned champions.”
“Being part of that journey for those seven games was pretty special. We had a long period of time in the dressing room to enjoy the experience of the journey and the occasion. All sorts of people came through, from family to famous cricket fans, but we were in our own bubble.”
Tom Moody also reminisced about how, following the match, the Australian team came together on the pitch to sing their traditional song, “Beneath the Southern Cross.” He humorously mentioned that Ricky Ponting, who led the singing, performed the song while being carried on shoulders, a moment that has left Ponting with ongoing lower back issues.
“Traditionally in the Australian team, we’d always sing that team song after a Test or a one-day series win. Ricky Ponting was the songmaster, and he delivered it on my shoulders, right in the middle. My lower back is still recovering.”
