Ricky Ponting lashes out at West Indies over T20 World Cup 'disgrace'

Aussie legend Ricky Ponting has savaged the West Indies' display at the T20 World Cup, describing their failure to progress to the Super 12 stage as a 'disgrace'.

The two-time World Cup champions crashed out of the tournament in the group stage on Friday after losing to Ireland.

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The loss came after they were also beaten by fellow minnows Scotland and saw them miss out on advancing to the Super 12 stage of the tournament.

Prior to their upset win over the Windies in Hobart, Ireland had not advanced to the second round of the T20 World Cup since 2009.

Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt lashed out at the team on Saturday, saying he was "deeply disappointed" with the West Indies' 15th-placed finish - their worst result at the tournament since its inception in 2007.

And Ponting shared Skerritt's sentiment, blasting the Caribbean cricketers in a scathing swipe of his own.

"It's a disgrace as far as I'm concerned," Ponting told reporters ahead of the first match of the Super 12 stage on Saturday.

"It really is so bad for their cricket.

"They've got too much talent in that team and in West Indies cricket not to be able to make it through to the next stage of the World Cup."

The West Indies' visit to Australia got off to an inauspicious start when batter Shimron Hetmyer missed his flight and was replaced in the squad by Shamarh Brooks.

"To me that sort of sums up probably how little these events mean to the West Indies players," Ponting said.

"If you look at the way that they played, you'd say the same thing.

"It's easy for me to say here and say that it's a disgrace that they haven't made it, but that they'll be hurting as much as anybody.

"They would have had big thoughts and dreams coming here and they haven't played anywhere near well enough to even progress.

"No doubt there'll be some soul-searching done when they get back."

Ricky Ponting questions West Indies' commitment

Ireland only lost one wicket as they chased down the West Indies' 146-run total on Friday, and Ponting questioned whether the Caribbean wickets had adequately prepared the West Indian attack for their trip to Australia.

"The wickets they play on now over there as well, they're really slow, low spinning tracks," he said.

"Being a fast-bowler over there now wouldn't be easy.

"But athletically there's no reason why they can't keep producing guys that can run and bowl fast."

On top of their World Cup campaign, the West Indies lost both of their T20Is to Australia and will return for two Test matches later in the summer.

"They're going to have to find a few lengths if they're going to compete against the Aussies," Ponting said.

"The current group that the Australians have got, you just line them up on paper, there's no way you think that they could compete.

"Cricket's a funny game but they're going to have to play out of their skins I think to make even the first two Tests entertaining."

with AAP

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