Former captain Ricky Ponting called the Australian team’s early elimination from the men’s T20 World Cup a “really poor campaign” and claimed that the current squad lacked the aura that characterized its previous teams at international competitions.
Ponting stated during the latest episode of the ICC Review that the team did not appear to have the same intimidating presence as earlier Australian teams who won ICC events.
“You look at that Australian team on paper, it just doesn’t look to have that sort of aura around it that a lot of other Australian teams have going into ICC events and World Cups. You need to have your best players and your most experienced players standing up and winning big moments for you in these tournaments if you want to go ahead and win and Australia haven’t had that,” PTI quoted Ponting as saying.
The former captain cited a collapse against Sri Lanka in which Australia lost six wickets for 20 runs in the final overs, as well as lackluster performances from the top order, especially Tim David at No. 4 and Cameron Green at No. 3 in the latter games. After a shocking 23-run loss to Zimbabwe, Australia was unable to advance to the Super 8s, which Ponting believed ultimately ended their campaign.
“It’s been a really poor campaign, it has to be said. Just losing to Zimbabwe like they did, that’s going to be the game that they’re going to think back and think like that’s our World Cup gone, there and then,” said Ponting.
With Tim David out at the start and Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ruled out, Australia had injury concerns going into the competition. But Ponting predicted that the one that sticks with them would be the defeat to Zimbabwe. Ponting acknowledged that he had thought Sri Lanka would be difficult to defeat at home and gave them credit for a brilliant run chase against Australia.
“I felt Sri Lanka would be difficult to beat at home and that’s certainly the way it turned out. They played really well against Australia. That was an amazing run chase when you look at it. That sort of score is never an easy one to chase down,” Ponting added.
According to Ponting, the past players expressed disappointment but did not criticize the present team.
“As a past player, we certainly don’t sit back and bash the current players or talk about them in a negative way when they don’t win. We just want to see our team do well. So, unfortunately, that hasn’t happened over the last couple of weeks. And that’s something that group of players has to live with.”
Additionally, Ponting denied reports that Australia does not prioritize the T20 World Cup, stating that winning ICC titles is always the ultimate goal.
“I’m not sure that that’s true. I think it’s probably hard for a lot of the players to get up immediately after an Ashes series. And let’s not forget, our guys just went through five really long Test matches and it’s physically and mentally draining for a couple of months. Some of the boys went back and played some BBL. The other guys decided to try and rest and freshen up and be ready for a World Cup,” he said.
“But trust me, any Australian team that I’ve been in or been around, yes, the (home) international series is important, Border-Gavaskar (Trophy) is important, but the reason you play is to win World Cups and win titles. The fact that we had as many players out as we did and some of our best players just not stepping up is the reason that you don’t win.
“The teams that are left now, the teams that need to have their best players playing well at the back end of this tournament if they’re indeed going to go on and win this tournament as well.”
