Lehmann defends boorish Aussies

AUSTRALIA coach Darren Lehmann has defended his players following criticism of their behaviour during Sunday’s World Cup final win over New Zealand. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin came under fire for his send-off of Kiwi opener Martin Guptill, and a photograph of Haddin and all-rounder James Faulkner mocking Grant Elliott after his dismissal cast a shadow over the Australian’s fifth World Cup triumph. But Lehmann insisted Haddin (right) was following team orders. And he was able to cite the ICC’s failure to censure his team as evidence that they hadn’t gone over the top. ‘He’s copped a bit, hasn’t he?’ Lehmann said. ‘No one got reported out of the game, so we must have played it fair. It was a little bit disappointing, but people are entitled to their opinions and you’re going to have good and bad times. You accept that and you move on. ‘We’re happy with the way we played, obviously. We knew we wanted to be really aggressive against them, and look, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.’ But Sportsmail’s David Lloyd, who is part of the ICC’s umpire selection panel, has added his voice to the chorus of criticism aimed at the Australians. ‘I was very disappointed at some of the behaviour in cricket’s showpiece event, particularly from the Australians,’ he said. ‘Watching it on my TV, and as a president of a local league, I know what will happen: this will be repeated in leagues across the land, because the players will think it’s macho. It’s not.’ Meanwhile, ICC president Mustafa Kamal has resigned after falling out with his colleagues. Kamal, a Bangladeshi, had labelled the ICC the ‘Indian Cricket Council’ after his side’s quarterfinal loss to India was marred by questionable umpiring, and was barred from presenting the trophy at the MCG on Sunday.