CENTURION (South Africa), Feb 27: England have one man to blame for the World Cup defeat to India which has all but knocked them out of the tournament — Pakistani veteran Wasim Akram.

It was the lessons learnt from the great man that helped fellow left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra demolish England with 6-23, the fourth-best figures in the history of the tournament at Durban on Wednesday.

“Wasim bhai (elder brother) always told me to bowl a good line and length under floodlights and the ball would do the rest,” Nehra said.

“I have spoken to him many times and follow his advice religiously.

“It would be stupid not to take Wasim bhai’s advice. He is after all the greatest left-arm fast bowler and my hero.”

Wasim, 36, reached the unprecedented landmark of 500 one-day wickets on Tuesday to top the 414 wickets he has in Tests, the only bowler in history to cross the 400-mark in both forms of the game.

Nehra will face-off against his hero when India take on Pakistan here on Saturday, the first match between the two warring neighbours since June, 2000.

“My respect for him will not go just because we are on opposite sides,” he said. “But India is my team and I will try to ensure we win.”

It was a remarkable evening under the Kingsmead lights for the 23-year-old, who decimated England in the best-ever bowling performance by an Indian at the World Cup.

Ironically, he may have not played the game if team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus had not declared him fit just before the toss following a sprained ankle suffered in the previous Group ‘A’ match against Namibia.

Nehra slipped on his delivery stride while bowling his first ball against the Namibians, hobbled off the field and did not return for the rest of the game.

Ajit Agarkar was told to get ready for the England game before Nehra reported fit to play even though the swelling in the ankle had not subsided.

“I really wanted to play because it was a big game. I wanted to bowl a good line and length as there was plenty of bounce in the wicket,” Nehra said.—AFP