By Arjun 
To say Washington Freedom have unfinished business entering Season No. 2 of the new Major League Cricket (MLC) season would be a gross understatement, as last year saw an agonizingly close opening championship slip from their grasp.
At a time where franchise teams are formed for momentary triumph, Washington Freedom have created something far greater. Now, the Ricky Ponting-coached side has forged a solid identity in the dressing room and with its supporters. Over the last several seasons their journey has turned them from just another T20 franchise into one of the more lauded teams in the league.
The tangible bond between the pair was clear during the emotional scenes after last season’s MLC final. Members of the Freedom camp, however, were devastated after watching MI New York pull off an incredible victory in the championship. Cameras also caught Ponting’s young children in tears after seeing the team’s heartbreaking loss, demonstrating how much the entertainment factor of a franchise meant to those asttached to it.
It was especially hard to swallow because Washington Freedom had been the best team in the tournament. They completely outplayed the league stage, winning 8 of their ten matches and looked pinned on strong favourites to win the Championship. Their balanced squad and their tactical discipline -literally shoehorned into them – were the benchmark side of the tournament.
Meanwhile, MI New York had really struggled this season, winning just three games during the league phase as they squeezed into the playoffs. Nobody could have expected them to make a game of it in the final – let alone keep Freedom from winning the title.
Washington looked to be cruising toward their second MLC title for much of the contest. But that is the unpredictability of cricket which yet again gave a dramatic turn. Big hitting pair Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips were the final two batters left when 12 runs needed to be defended off of the Young pacer Rushil Ugarkar’s final over, and both managed to hit the ball out of the park for six. The way he held his nerve in crunch situations not only authored one of the best finishes in MLC history but also curtailed Freedom’s title aspirations.
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Washington Freedom are one of just two MLC franchises to have captured the league title, despite agonizingly being on the losing end. Ponting’s men have the pain of a near miss from last year along with self belief that they can go again and run deep into this new season for more title success.
Washington Freedom are back again, with the experience, talent and motivation to mount another challenge in Major League Cricket’s marquee event.