Great Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has revealed that some former players were asked to send video messages to Pat Cummins’ team ahead of the World Cup final.
India were a strong contender in the match held at the Narendra Modi Stadium due to being unbeaten in the entire tournament on home soil.
However, after a century from Travis Head and a captaincy masterclass from Cummins, Australia emerged victorious.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au, Lee said he was given the opportunity to inspire the troops.
Australia will face India in the 5-match T20 series starting on Friday. Exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports!
He pointed to Australia’s record against India in World Cup finals, besting them with a 125-run win in South Africa in 2003.
“Some players were asked to send a message to the team, to which they linked a video. I told them that our track record against India is excellent,” Lee said. foxsports.com.au.
“We have won many World Cups so far, so support yourself and that is the mentality he will have taken into the game.
“Because it’s all right, 130,000 people expected India to go there and dominate.
“A few runouts, some good fielding and suddenly the momentum changed and the pressure was back on India.”
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Lee’s message was added to the collection of former World Cup winners who all know how much this current Australian team will value their victory.
“They made a little collage and asked players who had the opportunity and wanted to do it for some inspiration,” Lee said.
“I was in the field but I dug up this, my little World Cup ring, the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
“I looked this morning and there are a lot of good memories when you look at these things and it is a small ring but it was given to us by our fielding coach Mike Young, he had it all done.
“This is something I will cherish for the rest of my life, I know the guys, what this will mean to them now, they will be deep in celebration and they should be.
“Because they pulled off a win in India where a lot of people didn’t think it could happen.”
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Lee credited Australia’s performance in the final to Cummins’ calmness and ability to rally his troops after losing their first two games.
Australia had a disappointing campaign, losing to both India and South Africa before making a comeback against Sri Lanka. He then won nine consecutive matches to claim the title.
“Pat Cummins’ captaincy has kept all that energy and belief within the team intact, we know what happened in that team meeting before going out on the field tomorrow,” Lee said.
“They might have said ‘Okay guys, let’s just breathe, take this moment in and enjoy the 130,000 people, we may never get this moment again.’
“It would have been cool for me to have kept Pat Cummins above my players because they were not looking good after the first two games.
“They suffered a huge blow, but once again with some belief and talent they have won the World Cup.”
Australia will now turn its attention towards this Five-match T20 series starts from FridayCompeting with India once again.
(TagstoTranslate)Narendra Modi(T)Video message(T)Brett Lee(T)Sri Lanka(T)Lee’s message(T)South Asia(T)Africa(T)Strange trophy celebration(T)Home soil(T)Final run (T)Australian Captain(T)Travis Head(T)Captaincy Masterclass(T)India(T)Pat Cummins(T)Australian Team(T)Asia(T)South Africa(T)Great Australians(T)Fielding Coach(T) ) )South Africa