Lehmann defends Haddin's actions in final

Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren Lehmann says the absence of any sanctions from the ICC proves his players didn't overstep the line in their World Cup final win over New Zealand.

Australia's players, particularly wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, have come in for criticism for their behaviour during their seven-wicket victory at the MCG on Sunday.

Kiwi batsmen Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott were both given send-offs following their dismissals in New Zealand's innings, but Lehmann said the criticism of his players had been unwarranted.

"He's copped a bit, hasn’t he?" Lehmann said of Haddin during an interview with 5AA.

"We like to play our game; 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.

"You’re supposed to enjoy it, enjoy it in the right way and look after yourself and look after everyone else, that’s the main thing. Everyone’s entitled to their opinions."

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Haddin and Guptill after the Kiwi was dismissed // Getty

Haddin's comments on a Sydney radio station the morning after the match added weight to criticism from some sections of the media.

The 37-year-old has since expressed regret over the interview, in which he told Triple M the Australians had adopted an aggressive approach following the warm reception from New Zealand's players during their pool match in Auckland earlier in the tournament.

Quick Single: I didn't intend to offend anyone: Haddin

"We were celebrating a World Cup win and enjoying ourselves after a long tournament," Haddin said.

"In hindsight, we should have stayed off the radio.

"If I offended anyone, it was never my intention."

Before the World Cup began, ICC chief Dave Richardson said the issue of poor player behaviour would be addressed during the tournament.

"The behaviour in some matches by some players was deemed to be unacceptable, and not a good example to young fans watching the game," Richardson said in February.

"So the crackdown had already started, the teams are going to be told that the umpires intend to remain firm, that the penalties handed out by the match referees will perhaps be a little bit more serious, or higher than before, but that hopefully everyone will be treated equally and fairly."