Tom Moody, the former Australian all-rounder and current coach of Oval Invincibles, recently revisited Lord’s Stadium, the site of his 1999 Cricket World Cup triumph. As he prepared his team for The Hundred final, Moody reflected on Australia’s dominant campaign 25 years ago.
Despite being favorites entering the tournament, Australia faced early setbacks with losses to New Zealand and Pakistan. However, they rallied to secure a Super Six berth, setting the stage for a remarkable run to the title.
“We came in as favorites, but we played poorly for the first half of the tournament,” Moody admitted. “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.”
Australia’s resurgence culminated in a resounding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final. Chasing a modest target of 133, Australia cruised to victory in 20.1 overs, powered by Shane Warne’s four-wicket haul and Adam Gilchrist’s blistering half-century. Moody himself contributed with the wickets of Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood.
The victory sparked jubilant celebrations in the Australian dressing room, a moment etched in Moody’s memory. “We had a long period of time in the dressing room to enjoy the experience of the journey and the occasion,” he recalled. “All sorts of people came through, from family to famous cricket fans, but we were in our own bubble.”
Moody’s 1999 World Cup performance was instrumental in Australia’s success. He scored 117 runs at an impressive average of 117.00, including a half-century, and chipped in with seven crucial wickets.
As he aimed to guide Oval Invincibles to victory at the home of cricket, the memories of his own triumph at Lord’s served as a potent reminder of the power of resilience and teamwork on the biggest stage.
