Looking back at the 2003 Cricket world cup final

[Castro]

Hi all, I am new to the forum, my name is Amit and I am a economics student living in the UK. I've been looking back at the 2003 world cup final and Ganguly made some fatal mistakes. The toss: Bowling first was the right decision. The pitch was damp and had some zip it. Another advantage was the Indian bowlers were on hot form and the Australian batsmen were incosistent and had a bad game in the semi-final against Australia. I think everybody thought this was going to be a tight contest and India would make some early inroads. Bowling first went in the favbour of India. What went wrong? I am sure it was Zaheer's plan to bowl fast, attacking and aggresive, but the Austrlian bastmen had some luck and was better. Srinath's plan must have been to use his guile and try to get the batsmen out in the air by bowling short again, this failed. By the time it was the 10th over, Australia already made 80-0. However, India did pull it back and at the end of 20 overs, Austrialia scored 125-2. At this point, the game was even, India had brought it back to stability. BUT, Ganguly went exremely defensive and went with Tendulkar, Sehwag and Srinath. HE SHOULD HAVE brought back the attacking bowlers such as Zaheer or bowled out Harbhajan and Nehra whom were bowling very well, if India did this, I am sure they would have got 2-3 wickets and the score would have been in India's favour. I don;t knwo why when you need wickets he chose to go defensive in such an important game. At the end of 30 overs, Austrlaia amounted 184-2 and looked to be heading for a big total. Ganguly did bring back Zaheer but it was too late, Australia had the score and the momentum and they went on the score a record 359-2. The 20-30th overs period was the most crucial period and Ganguly failed. India Batting: India got off to a bad start by loosing Tendulkar in the first over. This was a big, big blow because he was in form and could take on the bowlers. However, by the 9th over India had batted well to get onto 57-1 with Shewag and Ganguly in full cry. Ganguly made a huge blunder and fell into 7-2 field trap by trying to hook a Brett Lee bouncer, why couldn't he just have tapped it over the slips? Soon Kiaif got out and India were in big trouble. Sehwag and Dravid batted beautifully under pressure. At 23.4 overs, India were coming back into the game at 147-3, by this time, Brett Lee had bowled 6 overs, Mcgrath 8 and Bichal 5. If India had binded their time, they would have faced a situation were they would have faced 15 overs of spin bowling were they potentially could have scored 9-10 runs per over. Even when Sehwag got out, Ponting stuck with Bichal. Bichal's overs were running out and at 30 overs India amounted 178-4. Again, Brett Lee, Bichal and Mcgrath combined had only 8 overs left, so there would have been 12 overs of spin bowling AND Mcgrath and Bichal were in-effective in the final, under pressure, they were bowling awkward. The deal was done when Dravid was out and India slogged their way too a loss. So in conclusion if Gangully attacked in the 20-30th over period, things might have been different. Also if Sehwag and Dravid binded their time, there would have been extreme pressure on Ponting because Bichal, Mcgrath, Hogg and the part time bowlers were ineffective until Shewag got out and even when Dravid and Yuvi were at the crease, they still had a chance. Tendulkar and Ganguly tried to pull balls which were not pullable balls and this was another mistake. Can't take anything away from Austrialia, they played better and they stuck to their guns and played their shots. All in all, Australia had the luck (Sehwag and Dravid wicket) and India should learn from the loss. Amit

[Shakthi]

1. Toss played big factor Dada shud have batted first given the form of Sachin & co in that tournament . 2. kumble should have been picked but dada was superstitious continued with Mongia 3. Bowling of Zak in first over itself handed the game to Aus . There is no way we were going to chase 360 when aus have Mcgrath.

[Sid]

:hmmm:

[Castro]

1. Toss played big factor Dada shud have batted first given the form of Sachin & co in that tournament . 2. kumble should have been picked but dada was superstitious continued with Mongia 3. Bowling of Zak in first over itself handed the game to Aus . There is no way we were going to chase 360 when aus have Mcgrath.

Logically, bowling first was the right decision looking at the wicket and the in form Indian bowlers. Then again, India's batsmen were on form and could have played without any pressure.

[Sachinism]

Indian bowlers who had been fantastic the whole tournament, really let us down on that day. Tendulkar had decided he needed to keep the run rate in check, but it didn't pay off. lets not think about it anymore, just bad memories

[Shakthi]

Logically' date=' bowling first was the right decision looking at the wicket and the in form Indian bowlers. Then again, India's batsmen were on form and could have played without any pressure.[/quote'] U r kidding right there is no way India could chase 360 against mc grath & co i seriously Think tendulkar was unlucky to get out for a bad shot that made the difference.

[Shakthi]

2003 wc final brings sad memories i didnt stop crying for next two days.

[suraj]

Luckily I slept through that match

[Gunner_Mania]

:hmmm:

eggjactly..7 years on ..is there a reason why the OP is analysing this particular match specifically?

[Castro]

U r kidding right there is no way India could chase 360 against mc grath & co i seriously Think tendulkar was unlucky to get out for a bad shot that made the difference.

Brother, India had chances, it would have been exremely difficult for sure, but they had chances and you never know how it could have gone. Tendulkar was a big, big loss however there was a time when Sehwag and Dravid was batting well Australia's part time bowlers were going to bowl 15 overs! at the end of 24 overs, Mcgrath had bowled 8, Brett lee 6 and Bichal 5. If you think about it 23.4 = 147-3 Mcgrath, Brett lee and Bichal combined = 11 overs = 55-60 runs Part timer bowlers = 15 overs = 135-150 + runs. This was when Sehwag and Dravid was at the the crease.

[Castro]

eggjactly..7 years on ..is there a reason why the OP is analysing this particular match specifically?

The purpose of the thread was to find out in a holistic sense were India went wrong and maybe learn a lesson or two. Austrlaia just had the luck on the day. I enjoy analysing matches. However, I am aware this game has bad memories but India made blunders in this game and the 2007 decided match against Sri Lanka. Even I was upset for a couple of days. I'm not expecting this thread to be welcomed. I am just analysing the match.

[ZodiaC]

Bowling first had another advantage coz d/l favors the chasing team. So bowling anydays. Dont wanna discuss about 03 wcup, it hurts :(( We had a bad day, our bowlers were toyed around. Nothing worked for us.

[Sir john]

i stop watching final when viru get out. :yay:

[Gunner_Mania]

i stop watching final when viru get out. :yay:

what are you so happy about? :mad:

[Gunner_Mania]

The purpose of the thread was to find out in a holistic sense were India went wrong and maybe learn a lesson or two. Austrlaia just had the luck on the day. I enjoy analysing matches. However, I am aware this game has bad memories but India made blunders in this game and the 2007 decided match against Sri Lanka. Even I was upset for a couple of days. I'm not expecting this thread to be welcomed. I am just analysing the match.

Personally for me..this match is a bad memory that I would like to banish forever.

[Sir john]

what are you so happy about? :mad:

i watch cricket for fun and entertainment only,nothing else. its just a game. :yay::yay:

[Jersey #10]

I turned off the TV and played some cricket with my neighbors after Sachin's wicket! I think I was like 13 years old and knew that if anyone in the world who could have seen us through that mammoth target then it was Sachin. Therefore there was no point in watching after Sachin's departure. Ponting belted almost everything that came his way. This is when he really made a mark in my brain as one of the bests in current cricket. Player of the match RT Ponting (Australia) Player of the series SR Tendulkar (India) It was all Tendulkar to bring us that close to the WC! Player of the series nuff said

[Andy]

Bowling first was justified in that circumstance because in the Group match against AUS We kollapsed batting First, so may be Ganguly didnt wanted to face Mcgrath and CO on a fresh wicket. Bowling let us down big time, No way an opposition should score 360 when Zak, Shrinath and Nehra was in Full flow.

[ZodiaC]

But still it was one of our finest moments, thrashed everyone who came our way except the mighty Oz. Goddy almost single handedly took us into the finals with dada playing good supporting role. I think our problem was middle order being a tad weak and bowling department was below par as usual. But who cares, we're gonna win it this TIME!

[Andy]

But still it was one of our finest moments' date=' thrashed everyone who came our way except the mighty Oz. Goddy almost single handedly took us into the finals with dada playing good supporting role. [b']I think our problem was middle order being a tad weak and bowling department was below par as usual. But who cares, we're gonna win it this TIME!

Middle order was full of Ordinary players like Kaif, Mongia. Yuvraj was not half as good what he is now, Dravid was the only good one we had. Bowling was below par only in the final, throughout the tournament our bowling was as good was the Aussies.