Australia can contend at WC with Smith, Warner: Ponting

‘Conditions suit our style of play’

MELBOURNE, Feb 10, (RTRS): Australia’s new assistant coach Ricky Ponting believes the inclusion of Steve Smith and David Warner will help the nation shrug off a woeful run of form in oneday cricket and transform them into genuine contenders at the World Cup in England.

Smith and Warner’s ball-tampering bans expire on March 29 and though the pair are struggling with elbow injuries, former captain Ponting said the presence of Australia’s two top batsmen in England would boost their hopes of back-toback titles.

“India and England are probably the two standout teams right now but if you add Warner and Smith back into that line-up, I think that team looks as strong Finch’s side could have a better mentor than the 44-year-old Ponting, who played in three of the nation’s five World Cup triumphs and led the team to backto-back titles in 2003 and 2007.

Australia have since slumped to sixth in the world rankings, losing their last six ODI series in succession in a miserable two-year period since defeating Pakistan at home in January 2017.

More pain might be in store for Finch’s squad in India this month where they will take on the world number two without first-choice bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Ponting, who joined local broadcaster Channel 7 as a cricket analyst last year, will not travel with the team in India for the fivematch ODI series starting March 2, or for the following warmup series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates due to other commitments.

The UAE tour’s dates are yet to be fixed but Smith and Warner’s suspensions will rule them out for at least part of the series, leaving them to try to find form in the Indian Premier League which starts on March 23.

Ponting shrugged off Australia’s injury worries and the idea of there being risk in rushing Smith and Warner into the team.

Ponting