'We were outbowled and outbatted,' admits Ponting
quotes
Anand Vasu at Edgbaston
21-Sep-2004
After the match at Edgbaston Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan, the two captains, faced the press:
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Ricky Ponting
On the mood in the dressing-room
It is pretty safe to say that we are all pretty disappointed. To make the semi-final of this tournament again and get knocked out is disappointing. We are all disappointed with the way we played.
It is pretty safe to say that we are all pretty disappointed. To make the semi-final of this tournament again and get knocked out is disappointing. We are all disappointed with the way we played.
On Australia's batting
We batted well in patches but lost wickets at crucial times. We got some partnerships going, but we lost wickets when we wouldn't usually. That was probably a result of England putting us under pressure. I thought we were 30 runs shy of what we should have made. The wicket was very good, and the outfield was quite quick.
We batted well in patches but lost wickets at crucial times. We got some partnerships going, but we lost wickets when we wouldn't usually. That was probably a result of England putting us under pressure. I thought we were 30 runs shy of what we should have made. The wicket was very good, and the outfield was quite quick.
On whether England have improved since Australia last played them
It is hard to gauge England on one game. We haven't played them for a little while. But they certainly played well today. Good luck to them. I think they will go quite well on Saturday.
It is hard to gauge England on one game. We haven't played them for a little while. But they certainly played well today. Good luck to them. I think they will go quite well on Saturday.
On what let them down in the batting
The guys were not tough enough at certain times. We all got off to starts and batted for a bit of time, got used to the conditions and then got out. I don't think we were flat. We were just not tough enough.
The guys were not tough enough at certain times. We all got off to starts and batted for a bit of time, got used to the conditions and then got out. I don't think we were flat. We were just not tough enough.
On how disappointed the team was
We will be disappointed for a little while about this one but as I said we can 't be too disappointed when we are outplayed. And today, we were certainly outbowled and outbatted.
We will be disappointed for a little while about this one but as I said we can 't be too disappointed when we are outplayed. And today, we were certainly outbowled and outbatted.
On losing to England
It doesn't matter who you lose to. It hurts. I hope England goes on and wins it. I would rather see England win than the other two sides that are left.
It doesn't matter who you lose to. It hurts. I hope England goes on and wins it. I would rather see England win than the other two sides that are left.
Michael Vaughan
On the win
We beat Australia in convincing fashion. It was impressive. The team came out and played the same cricket as we have in the last two years, and that can sometimes be difficult against a side like Australia who put you under pressure from ball one. It is easy to tell them to go out and enjoy the game but it is hard to do it.
We beat Australia in convincing fashion. It was impressive. The team came out and played the same cricket as we have in the last two years, and that can sometimes be difficult against a side like Australia who put you under pressure from ball one. It is easy to tell them to go out and enjoy the game but it is hard to do it.
On scoring runs himself
I think we have seen throughout the summer that we are playing as a team. I felt I owed the team a few runs.
I think we have seen throughout the summer that we are playing as a team. I felt I owed the team a few runs.
On beating Australia in a crunch match
To beat Australia on any given day is an achievement. We have done that today, and full credit to the team. To be honest, we still a way off them in terms of experience, in terms of expertise. To beat them in a semi-final is always a pressurised game. It was a fantastic effort. In the middle of the summer, we had a dip in one-day cricket, and a lot of people wrote us off. We are pleased to come back. We are delighted to have played as well on the big stage against a very, very good team.
To beat Australia on any given day is an achievement. We have done that today, and full credit to the team. To be honest, we still a way off them in terms of experience, in terms of expertise. To beat them in a semi-final is always a pressurised game. It was a fantastic effort. In the middle of the summer, we had a dip in one-day cricket, and a lot of people wrote us off. We are pleased to come back. We are delighted to have played as well on the big stage against a very, very good team.
On the effect this win will have on next year's Ashes series
I don't think the outcome of this game will have any effect on the Ashes next summer. Even if we had taken a hammering, I don't think it would have had an effect on the Ashes. Test-match cricket is totally different from one-day cricket.
I don't think the outcome of this game will have any effect on the Ashes next summer. Even if we had taken a hammering, I don't think it would have had an effect on the Ashes. Test-match cricket is totally different from one-day cricket.
On whether he was nervous early on
I just wasn't playing well. I felt like I was batting with a straw for the first 20 balls. These kind of things happen in cricket. You can go out some days and don't feel very good and then end up getting a score. Against Zimbabwe I felt like a million dollars and only got 17. That's the way cricket goes.
I just wasn't playing well. I felt like I was batting with a straw for the first 20 balls. These kind of things happen in cricket. You can go out some days and don't feel very good and then end up getting a score. Against Zimbabwe I felt like a million dollars and only got 17. That's the way cricket goes.
On how he would rate this win
We have had some impressive wins in the last year and a half. Our wins against India and South Africa were impressive. But to beat a truly outstanding Australian team in a semi-final was impressive for the team. We put them under pressure and will carry a lot of confidence into the final.
We have had some impressive wins in the last year and a half. Our wins against India and South Africa were impressive. But to beat a truly outstanding Australian team in a semi-final was impressive for the team. We put them under pressure and will carry a lot of confidence into the final.
On how draining the match was
This win comes at the end of a long season, and our bodies are tired and the minds are tired. I am sure we will be fine once we celebrated in true fashion tonight. We will need no picking up by Friday when we go to The Oval for the final. We have not been in a final since 1992, so we will be well up for the game.
This win comes at the end of a long season, and our bodies are tired and the minds are tired. I am sure we will be fine once we celebrated in true fashion tonight. We will need no picking up by Friday when we go to The Oval for the final. We have not been in a final since 1992, so we will be well up for the game.