With one week to go for the 2019 World Cup, batting legend Ricky Ponting has pointed out two facets that can help Australia to defend the title. Ponting believes the ability to bowl and play spin will define Aaron Finch and company’s success at the mega event, starting May 30.
“The thing that will define Australia’s success in the World Cup is, one, how well they bowl spin and, two, how well they play it,” Ponting was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“That’s been their Achilles’ heel the last 12 or 18 months. With [Adam] Zampa bowling well now, Nathan Lyon’s obviously in the squad and Glenn Maxwell’s done a good job with the ball whenever he’s played.”
The return of David Warner and Steve Smith has bolstered the Aussie batting line-up and thus Ponting is not too concerned about the middle-order’s ability to play spin.
“And I think some of our middle order are probably slightly better players of spin now than they were 12 or 18 months ago. With Warner there now and Steve Smith coming back in, the middle order looks a lot better against spin bowling than it probably was,” he remarked.
Smith and Warner are back in the fold after serving year-long bans for ball-tampering. Smith's return to Australian colours, albeit in three unofficial World Cup warm-up matches versus New Zealand XI, included unbeaten innings of 89 and 91. Although Warner could only manage a top score of 39, the southpaw lit up the IPL 2019 by amassing 692 runs from 12 innings while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“They’re both playing really well. Steve Smith still thinks he’s not probably 100 per cent fit just yet – but he’s not far away. And Warner’s been the dominant batsman in the IPL,” the three-time World Cup winner said.
There are concerns that the tainted duo will be targeted by the crowd during the World Cup but Ponting reckons they know how to deal with it.
“Those two coming in, obviously they’re class players – they’ll have their fair share of issues to deal with from the crowds and stuff when they get over there. But they’re big boys. They’ve been there and seen it all before. I’m sure they’ll be fine,” he concluded.
Australia will begin their title defence campaign against Afghanistan on June 1 at Bristol.
