Australia landed a gut punch in its against-the-odds World Cup final triumph over India.
Then came swift uppercuts from David Warner and Adam Zampa.
“Well did you see that happening? We did,” Warner posted to X with a picture of the team celebrating under confetti.
Australian great Brett Lee believes the preparation of a slow pitch for the World Cup final may have taken away India’s greatest strength.
Pat Cummins reportedly had concerns regarding the World Cup final pitch a day out from the clash, with the surface being the same one used in India’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan last month.
It prompted him to bowl first when he won the toss on Sunday, much to the surprise of the cricketing world.
Australia take on India in a 5 match T20 series beginning on Friday. Exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports!
The move turned out to be a masterstroke, with the wicket playing very slow in the first innings before the dew fell which caused the ball to skid on to the bat nicely.
Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labushagne (58*) capitalised as the wicket quickened in the second innings, combining for a 192 partnership.
Lee believes India missed a trick and should have instead prepared a bouncier wicket to benefit their world class fast bowlers.
Mohammed Shami led the wicket tally with 24 from only seven games while Jasprit Bumrah was their next best, taking 20 across 11 appearances.
“Traditionally if you look at that wicket, it rags and turns square so any dew and moisture on that wicket will allow the ball to skid on and be easier to chase,” Lee told foxsports.com.au.
“I was surprised, if you have a look at the Indian attack, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, they’ve been on fire this World Cup.
“It’s the quick bowlers who have been doing very well so I actually thought they’d try to knick off the Aussie top order.
“If they could have made some serious inroads early, that would have been their best way to try and take out that 240 and dominate.
“I was surprised they prepared a low and slow wicket which didn’t help them.”
India were also red-hot favourites coming into the World Cup final, but were bested by the Australians in a major upset.
Lee believes the hosts should have been the ones lifting the trophy, but Australia’s “tenacity” proved to be the difference and left the Indian side wanting.
“If you look back on statistics and what has happened this campaign, India should have won,” Lee said.
“India should have won the tournament with their men on paper, with their current form leading into the final.
“India were definitely favourites, 100 per cent favourites, but it’s that old Aussie mentality to never ever give up and that goes a long way in big tournaments.
“There was a lot of people that wrote the Aussies off saying they weren’t a chance, they did get off to a slow start.
“But they proved once again last night that with that tenacity, dedication and self-belief amongst the team that you can actually pull anything off.
“They actually dominated right from ball one.”
While India didn’t lift the World Cup trophy, the 2023 tournament did come with major milestones for one batsmen in particular — Virat Kohli.
The 35-year-old surpassed the record of 49 ODI hundreds he had shared with Sachin Tendulkar, tallying his 50th against New Zealand.
Lee believes the statistics don’t lie and Kohli is the best ODI batsmen cricket has ever seen.
“He’s got the most centuries, so you’d have to go on statistics, yes,” Lee said.
“I’ve always been a massive Sachin Tendulkar fan, I’ve loved his company and enjoyed the way he played.
“But for Virat Kohli and for him to say those beautiful words after he equalled his record and then went past him, he just said ‘I’m just trying to emulate my hero’.
“That’s his mindset, he’s got that inner determination, he’s got that way to be humble enough without being cocky.
“Because he’s got the presence on the cricket field, but when you know him off the field and I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with him, he’s a terrific guy.
“But he’s got that inner belief and he’d have to go down as the greatest ODI batsmen, stats prove it.”
