Former great Ricky Ponting claimed the Australian T20 World Cup team had no aura about them, especially after crashing out in the group stage.
Australia arrived on the subcontinent for the T20 World Cup off the back of five losses to India and Pakistan, as well as a slew of injuries to key players. Talismanic leader Pat Cummins was ruled out, as was partner-in-pace Josh Hazlewood.
Mitchell Marsh’s men suffered defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, which ultimately led to an early exit, leaving a bitter taste given how Australia has dominated with the white and red ball for the last two years.
As per usual, Ponting wasn’t holding back in his assessment.
“It’s been a really poor campaign, it has to be said,” the former Australian captain told the ICC Review.
“They had some injury concerns at the start with Hazlewood and Cummins being ruled out and then Tim David not available right at the start as well. But I think just losing to Zimbabwe like they did, that’s going to be the game that they’re going to think back and think like that’s our World Cup gone, there and then.
“You look at that Australian team on paper, it just doesn’t look to have that sort of aura around it that a lot of other Australian teams have going into ICC events and World Cups. You need to have your best players and your most experienced players standing up and winning big moments for you in these tournaments if you want to go ahead and win, and Australia haven’t had that.
“They probably haven’t got enough out of their top order batting with Cameron Green at No. 3, and then Tim David coming in at No. 4 for the last couple of games. They went off to a great start the other night [against Sri Lanka] and then to lose six for 20, taking no momentum at all into the second part of the game.”
