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Ganguly blames bowlers for dismal performance
Sourav Ganguly is also not happy with the performance of Rahul Dravid behind the stumps.
Skipper Sourav Ganguly on Thursday blamed the bowlers for the defeat against Australia in the tri-series match and was also not happy with the performance of Rahul Dravid behind the stumps.
Asked to comment on the performance of bowlers, Ganguly told a post match press conference: "Scores says everything. What do I have to say after this, I dont think we bowled well."
Chasing a mammoth total of 347-2, India fell short by 61 runs.
Ganguly said India conceded around 150 runs in the last 17 overs.
"They (Australia) played well. They took the match away from us in the last 15 overs. 300-315 runs was chaseable on this wicket."
He said India would have to bowl better and deliver the goods in their final league match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Nov 15 to qualify for the finals.
To a question, he admitted that Rahul Dravid had not kept wickets well in the last two games. "But he has done wonderfully well in the last one-one and half years."
"I was surprised that he (Dravid) did not put on the gloves in the beginning of the series. He has not practiced enough in the last four, five months. He may have thought that someone else will do the job (of wicket keeping).
"But that (Dravid's keeping) is definitely a thought of the match," he said.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting admitted that Sachin Tendulkar, in full flow mid way through the innnings, worried them and indicated that his dismissal was the turning point of the day-night encounter.
"We were worried after 25 overs when Sachin was batting. It was bit of a worry because he can score the runs quickly," he said, adding, the wicket of the master-blaster was a "bonus".
Ponting said he was pleased by the batting performance of his side's top order, noting that Australia used to lose four wickets for 50-60 runs in the tournament so far.
He was also all praise for Adam Gilchrist's knock which he said was a fantastic inning setting the middle order to finish things off.
Asked if Australia preferred to meet India or New Zealand in the final at Eden Garden, Ponting said it did not matter as his team does not worry too much about the opposition.
"We have seen enough of the two teams and exactly know how they are playing."
