World Cup 2023: ‘Way off mark’ Australia cannot afford to lose another game, says Ricky Ponting

Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting reckons the Pat Cummins-led team can not afford to lose another game in the ongoing ODI showpiece. Australia lost their opening clash of the World Cup against India by six wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday.

The Aussies were skittled out for only 199 runs and they will have to come up with a better batting performance. In fact, none of the Australian batters could go past the 50-run mark against India, with Steve Smith top-scoring with 46.

Australia have won a solitary match out of their last seven games and they will need to turn the tables in the next match against South Africa. Ponting reckons Australia can afford to go two matches down in the World Cup.

“Australia, to me, looked to be a fair way off the mark, to be honest, in that game against India,” Ponting said on the latest episode of 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,” he further added.

However, Ponting expressed confidence in the Australian squad and backed them to bounce back as they have quality all-rounders in the team.

“But I’ve still got full faith in their squad. It is a very good squad, a very talented squad. We know there’s a lot of all-rounders in that side,” Ponting said.

Ponting added the wicket-taking onus is more on Adam Zampa as he is the solitary specialist spinner in the squad and Australia need him to be firing.

“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,” he further added

“It didn’t happen in game one,” concluded Ponting.

Australia takes on South Africa at Lucknow on 12 October, Thursday.