Aussies can defend World Cup, says Ponting

MELBOURNE: Australia can successfully defend their World Cup title in England this year with Steve Smith and David Warner back in the fray, newly-appointed assistant coach Ricky Ponting said yesterday.

His upbeat assessment comes despite the misfiring team losing its two most recent ODI series at home, to India and South Africa.

“Absolutely, I actually do,” said Ponting when asked in Melbourne if Australia could win the World Cup.

“India and England are probably the two standout teams right now but if you add Warner and Smith back into that lineup, I think that team looks as strong as any.

“Conditions in England will suit our style of play,” added Ponting, who was appointed on Friday as assistant to coach Justin Langer for the World Cup, focusing on the batting group.

The former national captain is hugely experienced in the oneday game, playing at five World Cups and winning at three.

Ponting, a close ally of Langer, will start after Australia’s upcoming one-day tours against India and Pakistan.

Smith and Warner are available for selection again from March 29, when their one-year bans for ball-tampering expire. Cameron Bancroft, who was suspended for nine months, is already back playing.

“Once we get Warner and Smith and Bancroft back into the fray, and looking ahead to the World Cup, I don’t think they’ll be too many better teams on paper. You’ve got a lot of experience as well as a fair bit of youth going into that tournament,” he added.

Ponting, who played 375 onedayers and 168 Tests, previously worked as an assistant with Australia’s Twenty20 side in 2017 and 2018.

He also accompanied Langer during his first tour — to England — after taking over as head coach from Darren Lehmann last April following the tampering scandal in South Africa.

Ponting suggested he could be available for the Twenty20 World Cup next year, although his commentating duties during the Australian summer made it hard for him to commit to Test cricket.