The Hindu : Aussies have set new standards: Ponting

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

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Aussies have set new standards: Ponting

JOHANNESBURG March 25. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting says his lineup has taken one-day cricket to a new level in the wake of its 125-run World Cup win over India.

``We took things to a new level today,'' said Ponting. ``Scoring 360 on what wasn't an easy wicket was an outstanding effort by all the batsmen concerned. The 17 straight wins doesn't mean much to us. What does mean a lot to us is the standards we set for our side, and they are very high.''

The 28-year-old Ponting said Australia ``almost'' met its own lofty standards in the final. ``That's the very pleasing thing that has come out of today,'' he said.

``The pleasing thing about this World Cup is we've done it all fairly quietly,'' said Ponting. We've gone about our business in the right way. Our preparation has been great. Our whole squad has been sensational.''

Ponting said Australia had shown great depth and character to win the tournament just a year after the Waugh twins — skipper Steve and Mark — were dumped from the lineup, and after losing three of the original squad members to injuries and other issues.

``It says a lot. We've been really tested through this World Cup. We had a fair share of injuries. The Warnie issue as well, we were really tested there as well.''

Ponting said the contributions of Queenslanders Andy Bichel and Andrew Symonds were sensational. Expected to be bit players, Bichel and Symonds produced match-winning performances when Australia appeared to be in the doldrums. ``This says a lot about our depth. The guys who came into the side performed at a very high level. Well done to those guys.''

Since replacing Waugh as skipper 12 months ago, Ponting has molded a terrific one-day unit. ``It's the way we play. We don't think we're ahead of everybody else,'' he said. ``You have to look at the game today and realize (India) are a very good side and we've beaten them pretty comprehensively.

``That in itself says we're a fair way ahead of what was the second best side in the World Cup.''

India's only losses at the World Cup were to Australia, including the decider and a nine-wicket defeat at Centurion on Feb. 15.

``Australia and India were the best two teams. India had played some sensational cricket. Both sides deserved to be in the final,'' Ponting said. ``The Australian team tends to lift in big games. And we managed to do that again today.''

``Most satisfying,'' Ponting said of his century. ``To do it when it really counted today in a big game ... its the best cricketing moment of my life.''

It was the most special of Ponting's matches as captain. ``This one came at a pretty good time. Something like this is a lot more special than any other win we've had,'' he said. ``I can't see why we can't keep this stretch going for a little bit longer. Hats off to everybody.'' The Australians haven't lost since January 9, to Sri Lanka in Sydney.

Its previous loss was also to Sri Lanka, in the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy last September. Winning is something that seems to come naturally to this team.

Ganguly also looking at positives

India skipper Sourav Ganguly was understandably disappointed with the defeat but was quick to point out the positive aspects that would enable his side to return home with its head high.

``We played well but lost to a side which was much, much superior to us on the day. But on the positive side we have learnt to play as a unit,'' Ganguly said.

``For a lot of our boys, it was their first World Cup and the way they stood up to the pressure, it was commendable,'' he said.

Ganguly praised all his teammates, saying they had done very well despite the team's loss in the final. ``They have all done a great job. We did not win but we will go back home with our heads held high,'' he said.

He even defended his three fast bowlers, whose poor performance in the final was one of the main reasons for India's debacle, saying they had bowled extremely well throughout the tournament. ``It was one of those bad days for them. They bowled a bit short. But all my regards to them.... all three of them have bowled splendidly in the tournament.''

``Probably they were over-psyched,'' Ganguly said. ``This being the final of the World Cup, they were all very keen to do well. They had a poor first spell and it kept on going after that.''

``It had quite a bit in the morning. If we had put the ball in the right places, we would have done alright.''

The skipper said though his side fought valiantly while chasing the Australian total, realistically it stood little chance of overhauling the huge score of 359. ``I thought we were going well but, frankly, 359 was a huge total and it would have taken a monumental effort from us to reach there,'' he said.

``We just wanted to go out there and play. We did not know how far it would take us. Getting seven and seven and a half per over is not an easy job in international cricket. We did not want to look at the target and were keen to go on playing,'' Ganguly said.

Ganguly said he was surprised to see the stands erupt in joy at the arrival of rain and felt it would have been unfair to Australia had India won by the Duckworth-Lewis method. ``It just goes to show how dearly the fans wanted us to win but it would have been the wrong way to go about winning since Australia had played better cricket,'' he said.

``Hats off to them (Australia). They played very well. They were a better team than us. It was not an easy track to bat early on as the wicket did a bit. But they played like real champions.''

Ganguly said despite the defeat he was not inclined to alter the balance of the side by playing a fifth bowler in the side until and unless the player was an all-rounder.

``It depends on whether the fifth bowler is also a cricketer who can contribute with the bat. Sachin Tendulkar can contribute with the ball and so can Sehwag. We try to bowl the 10 overs between them to complete the fifth bowler's quota,'' he said.

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