'We want to win for the blokes who missed out'
Friday, March 21 2003 18:38 Hrs (IST)

Johannesburg: Australia will try to win the World Cup for disgraced spinner Shane Warne and injured Jason Gillespie and Shane Watson, Darren Lehmann said on Friday.

"We have to win it for those blokes who missed out and for the people of Australia," Lehmann said ahead of Sunday's final against India at the Wanderers.

Warne withdrew from the tournament before Australia's first match on February 11 after failing a drugs test at home and was later banned from the game for one year by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB).

Injury-prone fast bowler Gillespie made a superb start in his first World Cup when a heel injury forced him to return home. All-rounder Watson was a certainty for the tournament but was injured during the tri-series at home against England and Sri Lanka.

"Warnie sent us a message before the semi-final and I expect he will do the same thing again now," Lehmann said. "He may not be with us, but he is with us in spirit and we want to win the World Cup for him and those who have gone home."

Lehmann said Australia was confident of retaining the title they won in England four years ago, but did not expect an easy final despite thrashing India by nine wickets in the first round.

"Both sides will be nervous and whoever handles the pressure better will win," the South Australian left-hander said. "Playing in the final is a challenge and it will be nice if we can carry on the winning streak.

"We have learnt from our mistakes in the past, rectified them and played good cricket." Lehmann said India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored a record 669 runs in the tournament, will not be the only one the Australians will be targeting.

"We will target some areas of Tendulkar, but he has been a great batter for many years, and we hope we can force him to make an error," he said. "But we need to bowl well against all their batters. We don't really target bowlers but we have to put pressure on them as much as we can."

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
'Both are good but the Aussies have the edge'