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Ganguly left clueless by Australia drubbing

February 16, 2003 11:17 IST
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India captain Sourav Ganguly conceded he was clueless on how to revive his team's fortunes after their nine-wicket World Cup drubbing against champions Australia on Saturday.

"I don't know what the reason is," a downcast Ganguly told reporters after his team was shot out 125, their lowest in World Cup history.

Ganguly faced a barrage of questions on India's continued poor batting and the team's apparent inability to recover from a poor tour of New Zealand just before the tournament.

Asked if the team could rediscover their form, he replied: "If we keep on batting like this, obviously I don't have any answer.

"Somehow we have to put runs on the board."

India only just passed 200 in a low-key win over the Netherlands on Wednesday and had no answer against the barrage of Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie on a good batting wicket.

Ganguly said: "It is time for us to get away, individually, and think how to improve." The Indian captain has been struggling himself, with 17 runs in two cup innings.

OPENER'S ROLE

But Ganguly brushed aside suggestions that he should drop down the order.

"I have scored all my runs at the top. I am going through one of those phases," he said.

"As captain I am the first person to know I should score. But there is no point talking about the batting order."

Ganguly, though, hinted there could be second thoughts on retaining Sachin Tendulkar as an opener.

India had a good run of results in 2002, when Tendulkar was dropped to number four to add control to run chases. He was only restored to the top of the order for the World Cup.

"That was one of the reasons Sachin was pushed down," he said. "Maybe we have to do a re-think."

Tendulkar, though, has top-scored in both opening cup games, making 52 and 36.

Ganguly added: "Australia definitely will qualify. The other two slots are very open. There are still four matches to go."

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Source: REUTERS
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