On the 17th anniversary of Australia’s victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, then captain Ricky Ponting revealed how they set the mammoth total in the final against Sourav Ganguly-led India.
On 23rd March 2003, Ricky Ponting-led Australia met India in the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 at Johannesburg. After the Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly sent them to bat first, Australia scored 359/2 (50 overs). While the openers Adam Gilchrist (57 runs off 48 balls) and Matthew Hayden (37 runs off 54 balls) provided a strong start with the 105 runs partnership, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn utilised the opportunity by taking full control in that remaining innings.
The skipper Ponting scored 140 not out off 121 balls while Martyn remained not out on 88 runs off 84 balls. They set up the 234 runs partnership for the unbroken third wicket. In that innings, the Indian bowlers also conceded 37 extras, including 16 wides and seven no-balls. Apart from the off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2/49), all other Indian bowlers failed to take a wicket in that game.
We still had Lehmann, Bevan, Symonds – Ricky Ponting
Ponting recently revealed that as some top-quality batsmen were still to come after the 35th over of that innings, he decided to play aggressively as he wouldn’t be happy with the total of 300.
In a recent video with cricket.com.au, Ponting said, “In the second drinks break, Australia were two down with 15 overs to go, I told the 12th man tell the boys to be ready because I am going to go for everything, right here, right now. If it comes off we are going to get a huge score. I am not going to be happy with batting through and getting to 300 against that Indian attack. If I go from now and it comes off, we are going to post a massive score.
“I had great in the guys coming behind me and we still had Lehmann, Bevan, Symonds.”
During that final, Damien Martyn was carrying the finger injury. However, Ponting wanted to see Martyn in that final due to his strong batting ability against the spinners.
Ponting added, “I told him ‘look me in the eye and tell me if you are right to play’. I wanted to Martyn to play in the World Cup, he is such a good player, such a good player of spin.”
In reply, the Indian team was bowled out for 234 runs (39.2 overs) as Australia won that final by 125 runs and also clinched that trophy. The Australian team remained unbeaten side in that entire tournament.
It was Australia’s third Cricket World Cup trophy, which became a new record in CWC history. However, it was their first CWC trophy under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy.