The Hindu : "Decision backfired"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

"Decision backfired"

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly's decision to field first in the final on Sunday backfired, feels Australian all-rounder Darren Lehmann. (see pix celebrating with Damien Martyn).

``It is always dodgy to put a team in if you win the toss. I think that backfired, runs on the board is an easier way of doing it, Lehmann said.

According to Lehmann, the Indian bowlers were very nervous. It was a big occasion. ``You only had to look at the way Zaheer Khan conceded 15 runs off the first over to see their bowlers were very nervous at the start,'' he added.

``Zaheer was sledging Matty Hayden and Gilchrist, trying to stamp his authority on the game, but it didn't work,'' Lehmann told BBC.

``I had the pads on for 32 overs. It's something that doesn't happen too often in one-day cricket but it was just great to watch Ricky and Damien in action, '' Lehmann said.

"I finally got in on the act with my direct hit to run out Virender Sehwag.''

``We practice these things a lot and it was an important wicket at an important time. It was a great feeling to do something like that in a World Cup final,'' he concluded.

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