Ricky Ponting's brutal warning for Aussies after Cricket World Cup setback
The Aussie legend has called for a number of Aussies to step up against South Africa.
Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting has called for Australia to step-up against South Africa in their second Cricket World Cup match after he claimed the team was way off the mark in the opener. Pat Cummins and his men scrambled in their opening World Cup match against India, but were comfortably defeated in Chennai against the host's.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli guided India to the 200 target after Ravi Jadeja had done the damage with the ball having dismissed Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey all within 10 balls. And Ponting, a two-time World Cup winner as captain, didn't think the Aussies were ready to compete with India for their first game of the tournament.
AMAZING: Virat Kohli's brilliant act for beaten rival at Cricket World Cup
'CAN'T BELIEVE THIS': Cricket world erupts over insane scenes
"Australia, to me, looked to be a fair way off the mark, to be honest, in that game against India,” Ponting said in the ICC Review podcast. "You can't afford to be zip-and-two (0-2) in a World Cup. We know how important it is to finish up the top of the table."
Ponting said Australia have a talented enough squad to turn their form around and compete, which could coincide with the return of Marcus Stoinis. The allrounder was suffering from an injury in the lead up to the first game, but didn't return in time.
There is speculation he could come in for the out-of-form Cameron Green in the line-up. However, Ponting pinpointed one area Australia needed to improve drastically. Jadeja ripped through the Australian middle order with his spin during the Chennai match.
Australia's spinners didn't have the same success with Adam Zampa and allrounder Glenn Maxwell taking zero wickets. And Ponting admitted if Australia was to have any success they would need Zampa bowling at his usual level.
"The other thing that I probably learned is that they're going to need Adam Zampa bowling well. It's as simple as that,” Ponting said.
"With only Zampa and (Glenn) Maxwell as the recognised spinners in their playing XI for that first game, then a lot of the wicket-taking onus is going to come back on Zampa. It didn't happen in game one.”
Zampa has been one of the best spinners in the world across the last four years having taken the most wickets with 77 dismissals between the 2019 World Cup and the current edition. Although it might cost Australia having only taken one specialist spinner to India.
Ponting also lamented Mitch Marsh's dropped catch and called for a better all-round performance against South Africa.
Sachin Tendulkar questions Aussie approach at World Cup
Ponting wasn't the only cricket legend to question Australia's approach. Sachin Tendulkar took to social media after the match to declare that Australia made a mistake by not picking another left-arm spinner in their side following the calf injury to Ashton Agar that ruled the spinner out of the World Cup.
The India great also questioned Cummins' decision to bat first after winning the toss, with the evening dew making the ball softer and wetter during the run chase. "I was surprised to see Australia bat first after winning the toss," Tendulkar tweeted after the match. "Commendable performance by the Indian bowlers to restrict them to 199.
"Australia started well but I felt they missed a left-arm spinner on this surface. The partnership between Virat and Rahul sealed the game for us. They very smartly took their time and were able to execute some superb shots. The ball surely came onto the bat much better in the second half of the game. Congratulations to #TeamIndia on a good start."
Stoinis is expected to come into the team for Green for the match against South Africa at Lucknow. Stoinis plays for the Lucknow Giants in the Indian Premier League and could be fancied on a wicket he is accustomed to playing on.
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
