Ganguly is a disappointed man

Amsterdam, Aug 24: Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was disappointed at the rain-induced abandonment of the second game of the tri-series against Australia at the VRA ground here yesterday and said reaching the final on net run-rate did not seem right. "I'm disappointed at the rain interfering in this game again," said Ganguly, "We are practically out of the tournament and if we still make it, it would not seem right given the fact that we haven't won a single match in this series'". India lost to Pakistan by 66 runs in the tournament opener and wrapped up their league engagements with the abandoned game against the formidable Aussies.

India now have three points, same as Australia, but the latter have a game on hand against Pakistan. Inzamam Ul Haq's boys have already made it to the title round with six points to their credit. If Pakistan beat Australia by a thumping margin in the last game on Wednesday, it would boil down to India and Australia and the net run rate will decide who goes through to the final. However, Ganguly thought it was looking at too many variables ahead. "We might be moored at this place for the next six days doing nothing. But that's the price you got to pay for not playing well enough," the Indian skipper said.

Ganguly was happy his bowlers and fielders were able to restrict the opposition down to 175 for seven when it started to pour but still found fault with their performance. "I would not say I am quite pleased with our effort in the field. It was better but we still don't seem to do well as a unit. When a couple of bowlers do well the others don't. So, in a way, it is not a compact bowling performance," he said. Ganguly, nevertheless, was full of praise for Laxmipathy Balaji, whose figures of three for 20 following his three-wicket haul against Pakistan, made him the most successful Indian bowler. "He has shown a lot of character in the way he has come back after the debacle in Sri Lanka, Where probably he had to suffer because of slow flat wickets," Ganguly said.

Indians now would have a couple of days off from training and wait for the events to unfold in this tournament. Meanwhile, Australian captain Ricky Ponting was happy to get something out of the game for his boys and said he was pleased each of his batsmen had a bit of a hit in the middle. "I'm happy to have at least got something from the game. Our batters had a hit in the middle and Michael Clarke obviously enjoys himself in such sub-continent-like situations". "Obviously, we would have liked our bowlers to have a go, especially Brett Lee since he is back after a long lay off. But hopefully, we will have a full game against Pakistan and the bowlers would have a workout to their satisfaction." Ponting found the Indians as intense as they were when they toured Australia last summer. "They played very well against us and in the field we found the Indians as intense as they were in Australia," he added. (Agencies)

Published: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 

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