Published: Oct 18, 2014, 02:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 18, 2014, 02:57 PM (IST)
Oct 18, 2014
Former Australian captains, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting shared their World Cup winning experience on the ‘Salaam Cricket‘ summit organised by news channel ‘Aaj tak’. Steve Waugh who captained Australia in the 1999 World-Cup won a nail-biting semi-final against South Africa. On being asked about what was going through his mind at the crucial stage, he said, “I tried to keep calm. I knew all cameras were on me. Nobody was coming in with advice. I talked to Fleming. The mistake South Africans made was that they did not communicate before the third ball.”
Ponting on the other hand, who won two consecutive World Cups while captaining Australia in 2003 and 2007 said, “When we celebrated we did not know we had reached the final! We were happy that we did not lose!”
“It had actually started from 1999. There was a situation where we had to win all matches to win the tournament, but we made it. 2003 was different. It was difficult, since Warne was ruled out before the tournament and Gillespie after one match. By 2007 I found myself as one of the senior players. Being an Australian it really makes me proud when I think of the fact that we made it through two-and-a- half World Cups without a defeat,” he added.
On being asked about the situation during the World Cup finals in 2003 against India, he said, “Sourav had won the toss. Gilchrist and Hayden had got to a flying start. The Indians were a bit nervy in the first ten overs. After the 35th over (the second drinks break) I decided to go after the bowling, especially the spinners. Martyn also batted brilliantly (he had played with a broken finger; he had shattered it in the previous match.”
The conclave – named ‘Kaise Jeetenge World Cup’ – is attended by the likes of , Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Imran Khan, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Arjuna Ranatunga, who are among the captains who led their teams to World Cup wins. Among the other skippers will be Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Azharuddin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Aamer Sohail. Indian cricketers, who were also a part of their last World Cup winning campaign back in 2011, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, and Ashish Nehra will also be a part of the function.
