Aussies batten down the hatches
By Will Swanton 14/02/2003 05:45:44 AM
Australia has adopted a siege mentality at the World Cup after a tumultuous six weeks of suspensions, racism controversies, a positive drug test, an injury crisis and the Zimbabwe dilemma.
Darren Lehmann, refusing today to comment on the Adam Gilchrist-Rashid Latif row, said the recent dramas engulfing the team had forged it closer together.
Lehmann makes his comeback, against India on Saturday, from a five-match ban for a racial remark he made against Sri Lanka's players last month. An identical complaint lodged by Gilchrist against Latif yesterday was rejected by ICC match referee Clive Lloyd.
Following the spate of pre-tournament injuries, Shane Warne's positive drugs test and his shock departure from South Africa, the pressure on the team to make the right decision about playing in strife-torn Zimbabwe, the Australian side has battened down the hatches.
"It's been a tough six weeks for the Australian cricket team, more so off the field than on it, " said Lehmann.
"But having said that I think it's made us a closer unit. the first game was a great result for us, backs against the wall.
"We're more focused now than we probably were when we left the shores of Australia.
"That's a good thing for us.
"In adversity you stick together and that's what is happening at the moment."
Team meetings to discuss the latest off-field controversy have become an almost daily occurrence.
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