Thaindian News

Melbourne, Feb 11 (ANI): Former Australian batsman Dean Jones, a member of Allan Border’s team that first lifted the World Cup in 1987, believes that the fourth straight triumph should go down as Australia’s best-ever sporting achievement.

Jones said winning the World Cup is far tougher than claiming an AFL or NRL premiership, and backed Ricky Ponting-led team to make another title defence.

“I don’t care what all the great sporting people have done in the history of our country, to win four World Cups will be our greatest ever sporting achievement in Australian sport,” The Age quoted him, as saying.

“I reckon it’s 30 times harder to win than an AFL or NRL premiership. It’s once every four years and there’s 165,000 registered cricketers here in Australia playing against millions in the world. We’ve got the technology and the players to do it,” Jones said.

Jones hopes that Australia would at least make the semi-finals in the one-day tournament, starting on February 19.

He stressed it was up to skipper Ricky Ponting to return strongly from his broken finger to ensure the top-order fired on the sub continent pitches.

“It’s up to the top four. The engine room is the most important thing. It comes down to the batsmen and if we don’t make enough runs we’re gone,” Jones said.

Jones backed the decision to leave injured Mike Hussey and Nathan Hauritz at home. (ANI)