Mitchell Starc was found wanting in the recently held Test series against India.
During the recently concluded Test series against India at home, the left-arm fast bowler claimed 11 wickets at an average of 40.72. In particular, Starc was found wanting in the last two Tests in Sydney and Brisbane as Australia conceded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
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According to Ponting, the ball does move around in South Africa and if Starc is able to regain the art of swinging the ball then he will be more lethal in the series.
But with no first-class match scheduled ahead of the South Africa tour, Ponting feels Starc will have to leave a lasting impression in the training.
"It all depends on what he does between now and then in the nets, it's as simple as that. We've been talking about how he just didn't swing the ball. He swung the ball beautifully in the first two Tests but didn't swing it after that," cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying.
"That must be a technique thing, whether he was a bit tired or fatigued. But if he can do something to prove to the coaches around the squad that he's swinging that new ball... In South Africa the ball does move and we know how dangerous he is when the ball does swing," he further said.
"But we also know that there might be someone better to play if he's not swinging the ball. It's up to him; if he can get some remedial work done to sort his technique out and he starts swinging the ball in the nets, I'd play him for sure," Ponting explained.
With Starc facing the flak for his performances, Ponting reckons Jhye Richardson might play against South Africa as he had shown signs of swing bowling on his Test debut in January 2019.
"He's just a quality new-ball bowler. And if there are question marks around Starc and you need someone to swing that new ball, he fits that mould really well. We saw that on his (Test) debut -- he can swing the ball," said Ponting.
While the schedule for South Africa series is yet to be released, Australia’s assistant coach Andrew McDonald had earlier said one team will tour South Africa while the other team will travel to New Zealand to play the five-match T20I series, starting February 22.
"We are expecting the tour to go ahead and we are planning our preparations with our quicks. A team going for South Africa for the Test series and a team going to New Zealand – none of that changed at this stage," McDonald had said in the virtual press-conference.
(With ANI inputs)