Six and clout: Australia’s hard-hitters are on top of the world

What makes this Australian team great? One moment from Beth Mooney said it all. And it wasn‘t when she was batting.

Captain Meg Lanning holds the World Cup trophy as the Australians celebrate their sixth T20 title after defeating South Africa at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Picture: AFP

Here’s a side that will never be forgotten. Their secret? Here’s a hint. While Beth Mooney was player of the match for her shrewd, squinting, pick-pocketing contribution with the bat in the thumping victory over South Africa in the Women’s T20 World Cup final, it was a piece of her fielding in the shadows of the day’s close that displayed everything good and great about this extraordinary Australian cricket team.

Their grit. Their grunt. They’re gifted, freewheeling athletes, joyful souls, but don’t doubt their willingness to get their claws out when they have to.

They’re tough enough to drag themselves off the canvas, time and again, from pressure-packed situations. They win a lot, but not always by a lot, which is testament to their character.

And then physically, they’re gung-ho. Mooney proved it in a moment that failed to feature on any of the morning highlights packages. But it was a moment that showed you who this side is. What it stands, and dives, for.

Cape Town’s Newlands ground was rocking and rolling for the final. Bursting at the seams and threatening to do the same to the ear drums. All roaring for a local triumph. Even Francois Pienaar, the legendary captain behind South Africa’s first Rugby World Cup victory in 1995, was in the house. The mood was upbeat and expectant – until it became clear the Australians were simply too bloody good.

The 19-run win was Australia’s sixth T20 World Cup title, not bad given there’s only been eight editions, and when you factor in the three ODI World Cup wins, umpteen Ashes victories, the inaugural Commonwealth Games gold medal and god knows how many individual matches, it’s a heck of a generation. Add the fact they’ve triggered the complete transformation and revolution of women’s cricket from the backblocks of amateurism to full-time professionalism and the sort of riches now offered by the Women’s Premier League – it really is a side that will ultimately deserve a high place in Australia’s sporting history.

Mooney made an unbeaten 74 from 53 balls like a thief in the, well, late afternoon sunshine. She was cajoling and opportunistic. She reached 50 and there was a sense of, when did she make those? Ash Gardner was bumped up to No. 3 because she was in the kind of form money could not buy, unless you’re the Gujurat Giants in the WPL with $558,000 in your kick. Gardner was hitting sixes over long-off for fun, making 29 from 21 balls as Australia posted 6-156. Which was enough, more than enough, when South Africa faded to 6-137.

Fielding reveals attitude and commitment in any cricket side, like defence does in football. That’s where the hard yakka is. It’s where you can have a bludge if you want to, or rip in. Get your claws out or go in to hiding. Ellyse Perry has the right to be a bit careful in this regard. She’s torn her hamstring off the bone throwing herself around in the field, needing six months of gruelling rehab. She’s damaged her shoulder leaping over a boundary rope. She’s had back troubles and there’s a lucrative WPL contract coming her way, fitness pending - but stuff ebing caredul. She went hell for leather as a boundary rider in the final.

In a similar vein to Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards insuring his hands for $1.6 million, all these Australian cricketers suddenly have serious financial matters at stake regarding their fitness. If Gardner, Mooney, Perry, captain Meg Lanning or any of the WPL-bound players hurt themselves and were forced to miss the India tournament, they’d lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Didn’t matter.

Mooney’s commitment was a classic example. It was the last over. The game was done and dusted. South Africa needed 24 runs from three deliveries. Australia could have been in celebration mode. Gardner bowled to Nadine de Klerk, who thumped it down the ground. It literally didn’t matter if the ball went for four. But it still mattered to Mooney and the Australians. She could have been sitting on her heels, resting on her laurels, getting ready to pop the champagne corks. What did she do? She sprinted across the boundary as if the match was on the line. She launched into a full dive, landing heavily and awkwardly, tapping the ball back in with a desperate flick of the wrist. All to save one run, when the run was immaterial. It was the principle. This is how we play and compete. It was the epitome of being one in, all in, all the time. As Mel Jones said in commentary: “They find something in the legs, in the outstretched hand. They’ve won this game yet they’re still putting their bodies on the line.”

Claws out. “So proud,” Meg Lanning said as the Australians launched into something else they do pretty well. Celebrate. They’ve had a bit of practice.

Ashleigh Gardner was named player of the World Cup and, given Mooney dominated the final, and the Australians again proved their ­superiority, more than a few WPL franchise bosses would have been patting themselves on the back. Gardner pocketed $558,000, followed by Mooney on $349,000 and Ellyse Perry on $297,000, with 12 Australians, including Lanning, to feature in India. They’re getting what they have long deserved.

Perry only faced five balls. The four she lifted over cover from her first delivery was the shot of the match. And silenced Newlands. Too bloody good. Everybody hugged, back-slapped, got their hands on the trophy, whooped it up and had their say. “We’ll see what Cape Town has in store for us,” Mooney grinned before they headed off to paint it canary yellow. Gardner said this: “We’ve been longing for this moment. Words cannot describe how proud I am. We talk about evolving as individuals and growing the game globally. There’s so much fun in playing cricket for your country. This phase is something I am going to be proud of later in life.” And then Lanning said it all about the side that will never be forgotten: “It’s just a very special group.”