Ricky Ponting Backs Defending Champions to Come Good in 2019 World Cup
Published - 11 Jul 2018, 05:35 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:53 PM
The former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting insists they will be a force at next year’s World Cup despite their worst-ever One-Day Internationals run of late.
Meanwhile, the Tim Paine-led Aussies lost 5-0 to England in the UK, who will host the World Cup next year. The reigning World Champions have now lost 16 of their last 18 ODIs. Furthermore, the Aussies have also lost four most recent bilateral 50-over series.
However, Ponting asserted they would be able to match their best when they start their title defence next year. Ponting is Australia’s most successful skipper with two World Cup titles and has three World Cup to his name.
“One thing I do know is we’ve got still the best depth of any cricket nation in the world and I will continue to say that,” Ponting said. “We’ll keep producing great players. There are 16 one-dayers to be played between now and the next World Cup. I’ll guarantee you when you put the Australian group of 15 players down on a sheet of paper, that group will line up as good as any other team in the world,” he added.
Australia will host both South Africa and India for three-match ODI series this summer. Furthermore, ICC’s Future Tour Program has the Aussies down for five-ODI tours of both India and Pakistan in February and March next year. As a result, they will get enough time to turn things for the World Cup.
Ponting lauds Justin Langer
Ponting is confident Justin Langer is creating a dressing room culture that players will thrive in during the coming years. Langer, meanwhile, took over after Darren Lehmann resigned in the wake of the ball tampering incident.
“The environment Justin Langer will create around that team will be a place that everyone will just get better. They’ll just improve, they’ll love the environment,” Ponting added.
In conclusion, Ponting expressed his excitement not only over the recent future but for the next 20 years to come.
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