Cricket World Cup History: Australia's XI in 2003 World Cup final - Where are they now?

Australia’s 2003 World Cup winning squad was a dream team that few fans will ever forget. From fiery openers to pace bowlers, the team had them all. They had won the world cup four years earlier under Steve Waugh and now it was time for the new captain, Ricky Ponting to prove the might of the Kangaroos once again. 28-year-old Ponting justified his nomination as the captain as Australia won the World Cup winning all eleven matches and becoming the only nation to win the World Cup thrice.

Australia started the final with a bang as Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to field, a decision he will regret his life. The innings started with an expensive over from Zaheer Khan and there was no looking back from there. Ponting lead from the front with a captain’s knock of 140 from 121 balls to pile up a total of 359 runs. India lost wickets at quick intervals as Mcgrath and Lee dismissed the top order in quick succession. In the end, India lost the final by 125 runs.

Few can recollect Australia’s playing eleven of that match but let us take a look at what they are doing now.

Openers: Adam Gilchrist & Mathew Hayden

Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden

Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden was an explosive opening pair back in Australia’s golden era in Cricket. The duo’s outrageous batting in the opening over’s set the tone for the upper and middle order to score freely. Gilchrist finished the tournament with 405 runs with a strike rate of 105.00 and Hayden assisted him the same throughout the tournament.

Post-retirement, Gilchrist is now an ambassador to various corporations. The companies include Amway Australia, TFS Corporation, World Vision. The veteran wicketkeeper has also tried his hand at commentary when he joined his fellow former teammate, Ricky Ponting in Nine Network and Channel Ten.

Apart from cricket, Hayden has been a fan of cooking. He is an ambassador of World Youth Day and Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. He is also working with the Cricket Board of Australia in raising the popularity of the sport among the indigenous population of that country.

Top Order: Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn

Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn

One of the sole reasons why the Australian World Cup-winning squad is remembered is because of the heroics of captain, Ricky Ponting. In the final, Ponting leads the ship from the front by scoring an astounding 140 from 121 balls. He is one of the few captains to win the world cup consecutively in 2003 and 2007. A brilliant captain on-field, Ponting has gained appreciation from his teammates as well as pundits. Post-retirement, Ponting has tried his hand at commentary, writing columns and coaching. He coached IPL teams, Delhi Daredevils, and Mumbai Indians as well as an assistant coach of Australia cricket team in Trans-Tasmanian series.

Damien Martyn has been praised for his cavalier stroke play and indomitable spirit to batting. He assisted captain Ricky Ponting in the final by scoring a quick-fire 88. Martyn retired midway in The Ashes series in 2006-07 having played two tests and shockingly announcing his retirement before the third. Post-retirement, Martyn has been doing some commentary. He also occasionally takes part in The Cricket Club hosted by Stuart McCalley. Recently, Damien Martyn has dug his hands into a technology company and it seems he is enjoying life there.

Middle Order: Darren Lehman and Michael Bevan

Darren Lehman and Michael Bevan

Australia’s middle order was something that other test playing nations boasted off. At first, we talk about Darren Lehman. Lehman was not an all-important figure due to fitness and fielding being the weakest aspects of his game. He missed the first part of the tournament but made a heroic comeback and took the winning catch of Zaheer Khan. Lehman also struck in time as he claimed the run out of Virender Sehwag who was looking to threaten Australia’s mega total. Post-retirement, Lehman took the role of coaching as he debuted with IPL side, Deccan Chargers as he won them the tournament in 2009. Lehman also coached the Australian cricket team from 2013-18. Under him, Australia had regained some of the lost pride. Earlier this year, Lehman was instilled as the coach of Big Bash team, Sydney Heat.

Michael Bevan was the last dependable batsman Australia had when it came to chasing runs. In the final group stage match against England, Bevan came in at 48-4 and scored an unbeaten 74 to secure a win. In the super six stages against New Zealand, Bevan came at 84-7 and made another half-century to keep Australia’s unbeaten streak intact. Known for his hitting power at the latter end of the innings he hi often regarded as the 'Best Finisher of All Time'. Post-retirement, Bevan has focused on coaching. He has been the coach of IPL side, Kings XI Punjab as well as with Eastern Suburbs, a club in Sydney’s Premier Cricket Competition. However, Bevan has now specialized on the role of a specialist batting coach.

Lower order: Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg

Lower order: Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg

Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg were the fulcra of the squad. Symonds straightaway proved his worth in his debut world cup match by scoring 143 not out against Pakistan, which Australia went on to win setting the very tempo of the tournament. Post-retirement, Symonds has tried his hand at rugby being an ardent fan of Brisbane Broncos in the childhood. Symonds also appeared in Indian reality show, Big Boss season 5 and also acted in a Bollywood movie, Patiala House starring Akshay Kumar.

Deemed as one of the most successful left-arm chinaman bowlers, Brad Hogg debuted in 1996 with the Australia squad. Hogg went into the world cup as an understudy to the legendary spinner, Shane Warne. But once, Warne was suspended it was up to the left arm wrist spinner to take out tricks from his bag. Hogg petrified the Indian batsmen in the group stage match where India was bundled within a meager total of 125 runs. Hogg retired in 2008 after his divorce but resumed his career in T20 in 2011. He now works as a TV commentator.

Bowlers: Andy Bichel, Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee

Andy Bichel, Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee

Andy Bichel was initially the fourth pace bowler and as a back up to Mcgrath, Gillespie and Brett Lee. However, with Gillespie’s injury forcing him out of the tournament, Bichel took his place as the third seam bowler of the squad. Bichel’s best figures in the world cup were against England where he took seven wickets conceding only twenty runs. He rescued his team with the bat as well as he and Bevan had important 7th wicket partnerships in two matches that made Australia go past England and New Zealand. Post-retirement, Bichel was the bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings.

One of the most iconic bowlers of his time, Glenn Mcgrath was phenomenal throughout the tournament. Bagging 21 wickets in 11 matches, Mcgrath proved why seam and length did matter in pace bowling. In an infamous match against Namibia, Mcgrath’s bowling records read 7-15-4-7. Till this date, this record holds as the best ever bowling figures in World Cup. Glen along with his wife Jane started Mcgrath foundation in 2002.

Brett Lee became the third and most important musketeer in forming one of the most lethal attacks. Having dismissed Ganguly and Srinath in the final, Lee ended the World Cup with 22 wickets. Lee also took his first career hattrick against Kenya in the last group stage match. Apart from cricket, Lee has tried his hand at commentary when he joined Channel Nine networks. Lee also owns a rock band along with his brother Shane named Six and Out. He also supports certain charities such as the Salvation Army and Makes a Wish.