Ponting backs pacers to fire Aussies to fourth consecutive WC title win
February 12th, 2011 - 11:22 am ICT by ANIBangalore, Feb.12 (ANI): Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that he is backing his four-man pace attack to fire 100 percent and take their team to a fourth consecutive World Cup title.
Ponting said that the three-time defending world champions are in tremendous form after thrashing England 6-1 in a one-day series in Australia earlier this month.
Describing India and South Africa as the two outstanding teams of the tournament that could pose a challenge to the Australians, Ponting, however, said: ‘Our lead-up really couldn’t be much better coming into this World Cup, having just beaten a pretty good English side with quite a few of our more senior players not taking part in the tournament.”
The Sydney Morning Herald further quoted him as saying: ‘At the moment, we’re in good shape, we’ve got some really good confidence and a bit of momentum around our team.’
He said that he was very impressed with the comeback of Brett Lee.
He said: ‘Shaun Tait, I just want to let him go, let him run in and bowl fast and take wickets. Johnson, at his best, he is a guy who doesn’t go for a lot of runs and he takes wickets. If he’s not at his best, we know he can leak a few runs.’
‘Krejza has done well in the past in India in Test cricket (taking 12-358 in his debut in Nagpur in 2008) and he has performed well for Tasmania in domestic cricket in Australia this year,’ Ponting said.
He added: ‘He spins the ball a lot. He’ll appreciate bowling in these conditions over here.’
“I’m not sure if there’s a really hot favourite going into a tournament like this. Yes, we are ranked No.1 but we won’t be thinking about that,’ Ponting said
‘The next couple of weeks are important for me. To be out of the game for a month going into a World Cup is not a perfect preparation,’ he said. (ANI)
- Aussies may review batting order ahead of clash with Canada - Mar 15, 2011
- Ponting must use Krejza as team's No.1 wicket-taking spinner: Berry - Feb 13, 2011
- Fit and firing Oz pace attack holds key to winning 2011 WC: Ponting - Feb 22, 2011
- 'Frustrated' Ponting asks struggling Oz spinners to deliver against Pak - Mar 18, 2011
- Tasmanian Krejza still hopeful about playing Test cricket for Australia - Jan 17, 2011
- India should beat Pakistan in semis: Ponting - Mar 25, 2011
- India, South Africa outstanding teams: Ponting - Feb 11, 2011
- We want our cricket to talk: Ponting - Mar 23, 2011
- Krejza will struggle to make impact in World Cup: Ganguly - Feb 16, 2011
- No more favourites, Australia begin their title defence Monday - Feb 20, 2011
- Can India end Australia's dominance in World Cup? (Preview) - Mar 23, 2011
- Ponting asks players to be optimistic, says Oz pace trio best in WC - Feb 21, 2011
- We have always put the team first: Clarke - Jan 06, 2012
- World Cup: Watson, Johnson set up easy Australian victory (Lead) - Feb 22, 2011
- Tait aims to win World Cup for second time to relive 'indescribable fun' - Feb 18, 2011
Tags: australian captain, australians, brett lee, captain ricky ponting, domestic cricket, good shape, momentum, morning herald, nagpur, pace attack, pacers, ricky, sydney morning herald, tait, tasmania, test cricket, wc title, wickets, world champions, world cup title