Sports

The Satisfying Sound Of Silence: Cricket World Cup 2023

Published

10 months ago

November 21, 2023

By Musa Ehizoje Bodie

Australia’s Victory against India on home soil is damning evidence of why they are the best Cricket team in the world. They lost their last 2 matches in the 2019 world cup and their first 2 matches in this world cup which is the longest losing streak they have encountered in world cup history.

However, there is a popular saying that, allow Australia reach the semifinals, you may as well kiss the world cup goodbye and that is exactly what played out.

In their last group game, a masterclass from *Glen Maxwell* with 201 runs off 145 balls and a cramped left leg, produced the best individual score in a run chance since the history of the world cup to gift them a semi-final spot.

The Semi-final against South Africa was a repeat of 1999 world cup with the infamous *Alan Donald* scenario that can be likened to ‘’Lots wife’’ in the Bible who looked back why fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah’ and turned into a pillar of salt.

Fast forward 24 years later, Australia did just enough with *Josh Inglis* playing the Night watch man to see Australia home. A definition of cricket being a ‘’waiting-game’’ was displayed in the death when *Mitchel Stark* and *Pat Cummins* held on to a victory that will see South Africa wait for another 4 years at least. If there is a team that performs best under intense pressure, that will be Australia because they will play under their own steam and decide what is considered pressure or motivation and the deafening *‘Sound of Silence’* to a crowd of over 90,000 India supporters will be the second-best reward after the trophy itself and that is the story of the Cricket World Cup 2023.

This victory makes it 6 in 13 attempts and three times more than any other country, no wonder comments around the world have included “Heartbreak most poignant – in the dashed hopes of Captain Rohit Sharma and Coach *Rahul Dravid* of India”, ‘’Hard for me not to believe in Miracles – Marnus Labuschagne* of Australia’’, ‘’Australia saved the best for last – *Captain Pat Cummins* of Australia’’, ‘’These are the moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your life – *Travis Head*’’, Player of the final match with his brilliant 137 runs that ensured Australia went home with the trophy.

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Sports

Super Eagles Can Secure Six Points Against Benin Republic and Rwanda – Barrister Alli

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2024

The Gleamer

Barrister Rotimi Alli, Chairman of the Ibadan Football Council, has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ ability to secure the maximum six points in their upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Speaking at the September edition of the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association virtual interactive session, “Guest of the Month,” Barrister Alli, popularly known as Libero, emphasized that the team’s success depends on the players’ determination and willpower.

“It’s not about the coaches; it’s all about the boys,” he stated. “With only two or three days of preparation, there’s little the coaches can do. It’s the players’ mindset that will determine the outcome. They must decide among themselves that they want to win.”

Barrister Alli believes that the caliber of players in the Super Eagles squad is more than capable of achieving success. “Considering the quality of players we have, there’s nothing stopping us from qualifying for the Nations Cup and the World Cup,” he added.

The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic and Rwanda in crucial AFCON qualifiers this weekend, and Barrister Alli’s optimism is a testament to the team’s potential. With the right mindset and determination, the Super Eagles can secure the maximum points and take a significant step towards qualifying for the major tournaments.

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