18 years ago the 2003 cricket world cup final

[mr_mister]

Iirc India got rolled over for 120 by aus in the group stages, that was the main reason they wanted to bowl first I think. Weren't confident of batting first against the Australian attack imo

Yeah. Funnily enough, Pakistan aced a run chase in the '99 SF against NZ before crumbling while batting first against Aus in the final


Maybe India saw a similar fate on the cards if they batted first

 

[TheJediBrah]

It wasn't a crazy decision to bowl first. It's just hindsight and a traumatic experience playing with someone's mind.

 

[sunilz]

That Australian side was much superior to the Indian side which was correctly reflected by ICC rankings. Final was a great result result for that Indian side who used to consistently choke in series decider games.
However India should have batted 1st because India beat nearly same AUS side in CT trophy in 2000 by batting 1st.

 

[mr_mister]

Could you really call it a great result if they lost by 125 runs? Maybe if they got within 50 runs or something

 

[sunilz]

Could you really call it a great result if they lost by 125 runs? Maybe if they got within 50 runs or something

Reaching final was a great result.
If that final would have been close, then it would have hurt more ( ask NZ fans about 2019 vs 2015 WC final ).

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Nah getting stomped in 2015 was way worse

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Bear in mind the last thing I saw of the 2019 final was Santner ducking under the last ball of the innings.

 

[sunilz]

I would like to hear opinion of more NZ fans about this(2019 vs 2015 F).
However I would prefer a one sided thrashing anyday over a close loss in 1 match.

 

[stephen]

I would like to hear opinion of more NZ fans about this(2019 vs 2015 F).
However I would prefer a one sided thrashing anyday over a close loss in 1 match.

New Zealand didn't lose though.

 

[TheJediBrah]

That Australian side was much superior to the Indian side which was correctly reflected by ICC rankings. Final was a great result result for that Indian side who used to consistently choke in series decider games.
However India should have batted 1st because India beat nearly same AUS side in CT trophy in 2000 by batting 1st.

The Aus 2003 WC side was comfortably better than that 2000 side. Ponting, Gilchrist, Martyn and Lee were in both sides but by 2003 were all much better players. Symonds and Hogg in 2003 were massive improvements as well.

As mentioned earlier as well, just a few weeks previously India batted first and were shot out for 125. Clearly a much more relevant comparison that a game from 2000.

 

[Jumno]

I remember Dinesh Mongia coming in to bat and they put up his ODI career stats and I recall his highest score at that time was a near-daddy hundred...and I thought that he was gonna man the chase and take India home...

They all went home after the Lehmann catch.

When he smacked two boundaries off two balls off Bichal, I thought it was going to be Yuvraj-Kaif 2002 Natwest series final heroics/partnership again.

Unfortunately Yuvi could not connect and got out soon afterwards.

 

[Jumno]

The pitch had something in it, there was overnight rain and the Indian bowlers were bowling well, so maybe Ganguly made a prudent decision.

However the Aussie line up was one of the best odi line up's ever.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

If you check Last CW 50 ODI players list, 10 or more were playing for Australia between 2000 and 2010.
Basically India was playing against an alltime 11.

 

[Jayro]

I jerked off thrice in sheer disappointment hoping it would change anything everytime

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

I jerked off thrice in sheer disappointment hoping it would change anything everytime

@Gnske, this you?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Another fun fact, Darren Lehmann played in 2 World Cups, won both, and in both he was the one that ended it. In 1999 he hut the winning runs and in 2003 he took the winning catch. He also won the only World Cup that he coached (2015).

 

[Jumno]

I think Bevan was passenger in 1999 World cup final too, M Waugh, Gilchrist, Ponting, Lehmann all got to bat. S Waugh took catch. McGrath, Fleming, Warne, Moody took wickets.

Bevan passenger in 1999 and 2003 world cup final.

 

[stephen]

I think Bevan was passenger in 1999 World cup final too, M Waugh, Gilchrist, Ponting, Lehmann all got to bat. S Waugh took catch. McGrath, Fleming, Warne, Moody took wickets.

Bevan passenger in 1999 and 2003 world cup final.

Yeah. Had a pretty big role in the 99 semi though. Top scored and a direct hit run out.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Yeah. Had a pretty big role in the 99 semi though. Top scored and a direct hit run out.

Semis don't matter, though, we're told...

 

[stephen]

Semis don't matter, though, we're told...

They count when they knock out the tournament favorites on your path to victory.