Ricky Ponting Makes You Feel You Can Walk on Water - Glenn Maxwell

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell said team’s assistant coach Ricky Ponting can make the team feel that they can walk on water. Maxwell shared an incident in which Ponting’s pep talk helped Australia in chasing down the record-breaking target of 243 against New Zealand. Colin Munro and Martin Guptill had played sublime knocks to help the Kiwis in posting the gargantuan total on the board.

However, Ponting backed his men to chase down the target with an over to spare. As the two-times World Cup captain predicted, Australia won the match with seven balls to spare. Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell who is known for his pyrotechnics scored a blistering knock of 31 runs from 14 balls in that match.

Ponting can get the best out of the players.

“It was matter-of-fact – ‘we’re going to chase these runs down, comfortably – not just reach the target, we’re going to chase these runs down with an over to spare’,” Maxwell told cricket.com.au.

“Our players heard that and went ‘all right, no worries’, and then we looked around at D’Arcy Short, David Warner, Chris Lynn, myself and Aaron Finch – we looked at that top five and went ‘there are not many better top fives in the world, so let’s go out and do this’.”

Consequently, Maxwell added that Ponting’s pep talk helped them in chasing down the imposing total. Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting was recently appointed as the batting assistance coach to help Australia in rebuilding their team.

Ponting has all the experience under his belt.

Australia hasn’t been at their best in the recent past and they would like to turn the tables in the forthcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Subsequently, Ricky Ponting’s vast experience can help Australia in getting back to their best.

“That’s the sort of confidence that he gave us as a team. Not only by the words he said but through the conviction with which he said them. He makes you feel like you can walk on water sometimes. He’s a good person for the batters to talk different tactics with because he can read someone’s technique really well.

“And he’s an unbelievable coach in the way that he coaches technique and the basics of the game. He can spend five minutes with you and work out any flaws and strengths that can slightly help, without changing your game too much. He can even change your mindset with just a conversation because of his amazing ability,” the 30-year-old said.

Australia will like to turn the tables.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell-led Melbourne Stars could chase down 146 runs despite been 93-0 at one stage in the final of the BBL against Melbourne Renegades. On the other hand, it would be prudent to consider Australia as one of the firm contenders if David Warner and Steven Smith can hit the ground running. Both the talisman batsmen can return back to International cricket on March 29.

Australia will next take on India in two-match T20I and five-match ODI series. The first T20I will take place at Vishakhapatnam on 24th February.