Australia yet to hit peak in T20 World Cup 2024: Ricky Ponting fires warning to India, England and other teams

The Australia cricket team under Mitchell Marsh has been on fire since the start of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, but the legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting reckoned that the Kangaroos have not yet played their best cricket in the tournament.

Australia, the winner of the 2021 T20 World Cup, won all four Group B games and kicked off their Super-8 journey with another dominating win over Bangladesh to bolster their status as one of the strongest contenders to win the 2024 edition of the tournament.

Ricky Ponting believes Australia yet to hit peak despite dominance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024

Marsh and his Australian team crushed the Bangladesh cricket team by 28 runs via the DLS method in their first Super-8 match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. David Warner’s unbeaten fifty and Pat Cummins’ three-wicket haul helped the Australian team continue their winning streak in the ongoing mega ICC event.

Meanwhile, Ponting has shared his insights on Australia's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, saying the team has so far played solid cricket, but they have not yet reached their peak form. He highlighted that Australia would benefit from more contributions from their middle order, with key players like Marsh and Glenn Maxwell yet to fully hit their stride.

Ricky Ponting was quoted as saying by Sky Sports: “They've played some good cricket. I don't think they've been at their absolute best yet. I think they'd still prefer some runs from their middle order. Mitchell Marsh hasn't really got going yet. Glenn Maxwell hasn't really got going yet.”

The former Australian skipper has pointed out that the Kangaroos have made several changes to their lineup so far in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, indicating strategic planning for the crucial stages of the tournament. He also lauded Australia for being mindful of the intense schedule that includes three Super-8 matches in just five days.

Ricky Ponting predicts Australia's peak form will come in the T20 World Cup 2024 knockouts

Ponting mentioned that Australia rested key fast bowlers, giving Ashton Agar a chance, which suggested that they are managing player workload and keeping them fresh for crucial matches ahead in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, where they will also face India in the Super-8 stage on June 24.

Furthermore, Ponting, sending a warning to other opponents, noted that Australia's best performances are still to come in the ongoing tournament, and this characteristic is a good sign for them to dominate the knockout stages.

Australia will peak at the right moment, which has historically been a hallmark of Australian teams, and the cricket pandit believes it will be crucial for their success in the knockout stages of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

Ponting added, “They've tinkered with their side on a few occasions as well. They've been looking ahead, I think, to this stage of the tournament. They've got three games now in about five days. So, they've rested some of their fast bowlers. Ashton Agar got a game along the way. So, I think their best cricket is still ahead of them, which is normally the way with Australia in these big tournaments.”