Old school - ODI

With Fox Sports running so much old school cricket, football and league, it would be remiss of me to not devote a little time to strolling down memory lane.

Australia V West Indies ODI
1997
The Gabba
Historical Context: Australia had just climbed to No 1 in the Test rankings and lost the World Cup final. However, they were going off the boil in the short form of the game and would eventually miss the finals of the World Series Cup for the first time since 1979-80. That hastened the exit of Test skipper Mark Taylor and long-time keeper Ian Healy from the limited overs set-up.
Australia won the toss and batted, but were only 46 after 12 overs - a slow start by today's standards.
Taylor was at the start of the form slump that had him one innings away from being dropped and cuts a widish one to the keeper. 26 off 52.
Stuart Law in at first drop. The West Indies attack had Walsh, Ambrose and Bishop, so they weren't pie chuckers.
100 up in 23 overs. Waugh's 50 off 62 balls. We never got to appreciate how good a player he was because of his brother. Junior was never Australia's best bat, but he was consistent and made it look easy.
150 up in the 39th over - a snail's pace in the T20 era. Law has passed 50. Waugh brings his ton up with a gorgeous cover drive. Law caught off a no-ball. Curtly is unimpressed.
Diabolical run-out - Law hit one straight at Walsh and Waugh was left stranded.
Steve Waugh in at four. This bloke could play a bit.
Curtly is bowling no-balls for fun. Law is taking full advantage. Then he manages to run another Waugh out. Damn. 6 off 8 for Tugga.
How weird are those Commonwealth Bank ads? Film noir?
Michael Bevan - probably our greatest one-day player ever - in at five. Try running him out, Law.
250 up in 45th over. Wow. They are going pretty quick. Brian Lara takes a great catch at backward point - see ya, Stu. Well batted.
Greg Blewett in at six. Swipes Walsh for six. Top shot. This guy should have done so much more at international level.
Bevan is a fair dinkum rabbit between the wickets. It would drive me mad fielding against him.
Australia finish with 4/281. That'll take some chasing.
The little boxes ad referenced in another post is for the Uni of New England. I wouldn't go there.
Richie Benaud! Feels like years since I saw him on my TV screen.
Sherwin Campbell and Junior Murray open the batting. Anthony Stuart the bowling. Wow. For the best team in the world, we have some randoms. Andy Bichel at the other end. This, this is our new ball attack? McGrath must be injured and Gillespie not yet a ODI player.
Campbell caught by Heals. Awesome.
Lara is in. This bloke could play a bit. First ball on drive for three. Hmmm.
Four byes. Heals didn't make mistakes. It's a lie. Lara just slapped Stuart through extra cover for four. Sick shot.
Tom Moody catches Murray in the outfield. Moods was still playing two years later and it felt like he had been around for 30 years.
Carl Hooper joins Lara, who drills Stuart again. Twice. Uh oh.
Bichel goes the journey back over his head. Moody into the attack. Short answer: didn't work.
Security guard drops a six. Boos from the drunken Gabba rabble. Concentrate on Lara, fools.
The Prince of Trinidad brings up his 50 before Hooper gets in on the act.
Finally ... Warnie. Last time I saw him bowl, it was to Hugh Jackman. The West Indies are treating him with respect. Stuart drops Lara off Warne. Shit. That's gonna cost us. Another catch falls between three guys.
Hooper launches Bevan into the stands. Bevo was a handy bowler. Mad wrong 'un. Sneaks it past Lara, but stumping appeal turned down.
Steve Waugh bowling. That stopped pretty quick when he became captain. Law dropped Lara. We. Are. Boned.
Lara brings up his ton. Batted, guy. Everyone talks about Tendulkar, but I would rather watch this guy. I can't anymore tonight because he has been caught off Stuart. About 80 runs too late.
Jimmy Adams in now. Hooper has taken over. I've only just noticed the Ansett logos everywhere. Hahaha.
Warnie back on. Hooper nearly holes out to Bevan. Then brings up his ton. Hooper was an enigma - always looked cool, but I don't remember him ever playing a Lara-style knock.
Windies need just seven off two overs. Adams slashes a four off Moody. Hooper finishes it with a four.
On this night, it was fielding, not batting, that sunk Australia. Dropping Lara three times was always gonna make things tricky. Hooper got man of the match after outscoring Lara by eight.