Bevan world's one-day best, says Waugh

N Ananthanarayanan

Australia captain Steve Waugh said Michael Bevan showed why he is regarded the best one-day batsman in the world, after the left-hander's unbeaten 87 helped Australia to a series-clinching win over India on Friday.

"Michael Bevan put up a brilliant performance. He showed why he's the best one-day batsman in the world," Waugh said after Australia's four-wicket win over India in the fifth ODI in Goa.

"We won the (1999) World Cup. We were not going to lose easily or give it away," he said.

"It's a very pleasing result, we put up a spectacular performance today. We gave our best in all the games. In the Tests we had come up slightly short, but the boys have come back really well in the one-dayers."

Australia had won the first Test in less than three days before India hit back to clinch the series 2-1.

"I didn't think my side could have come back after the devastating Test series loss. We showed a lot of character," Waugh said.

NO BAD BLOOD

The series had been marred by a few incidents of dissent and sledging but Waugh and Indian captain Sourav Ganguly both said there was no bad blood between the teams.

"We got along reasonably well in the end. It's no good airing dirty laundry in public," Waugh said.

Ganguly also said there was no major feud.

"When two teams are contesting with so much intensity, a few things are said here and there," he said.

Australian opening batsman Michael Slater had received a one-match suspended ban from West Indian match referee Cammie Smith after he argued with India's Rahul Dravid and the umpires in the first Test at Bombay.

Paceman Glenn McGrath and Australia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist were fined 50 per cent of their match fees for showing dissent during the first one-day match at Bangalore.

There was also a controversy between the two captains over who won the toss in the third match at Indore.

These incidents had prompted Smith to call a meeting of Indian and Australian team officials to soothe tension between the sides.

POOR BOWLING

Ganguly said poor bowling had cost his team Friday's deciding match.

India scored 265 for six from their 50 overs on a difficult pitch but gave away too many runs early on as Australia raced to 102 for two from their first 15 overs.

"There were too many boundaries in the initial stages. We knew we needed wickets, we got a few but we should have bowled better," Ganguly said.

"I think we were 20 runs short in any case," he added.

India's coach New Zealander John Wright said it is about time India stopped banking only on their batting.

"We can't expect the batsmen to get 300 all the time. We need to get more consistent with the ball," he said.

But Ganguly said he is happy with his team's showing over the last six weeks.

"I am very proud of my team. The boys have fought well. It's been a good, hard series and there have been lots of positives from both the Tests and one-dayers," he said.

Images from the match

Mail Cricket Editor