Ricky Ponting has declared that Australia's World Cup chances will be defined by how well Aaron Finch's team use spin bowling and also bat against it, having only recently placed fresh emphasis on this component of their ODI set-up after ignoring it for some years, ESPN reports.
"The thing that will define Australia's success in the World Cup is, one, how well they bowl spin and, two, how well they play it," Ponting told The Telegraph. "That's been their Achilles' heel the last 12 or 18 months. With [Adam] Zampa bowling well now, Nathan Lyon's obviously in the squad and Glenn Maxwell's done a good job with the ball whenever he's played.
"And I think some of our middle order are probably slightly better players of spin now than they were 12 or 18 months ago. With Warner there now and Steve Smith coming back in, the middle order looks a lot better against spin bowling than it probably was. Australia's got a very proud history. I know that'll be something that will be spoken about within the group."
Smith and Warner have returned to Australia's set-up after 12-month bans over the ball tampering scandal in South Africa last year. Ponting acknowledged the level of criticism the pair were likely to attract from English crowds, but said it was more important to see signs that both Smith and Warner were finding form at the right time.
"They're both playing really well. Steve Smith still thinks he's not probably 100% fit just yet - but he's not far away. And Warner's been the dominant batsman in the IPL," Ponting said. "Those two coming in, obviously they're class players - they'll have their fair share of issues to deal with from the crowds and stuff when they get over there. But they're big boys. They've been there and seen it all before. I'm sure they'll be fine."
"I guess that's probably one of the reasons they've got me involved - having been around some successful World Cup campaigns," Ponting said. "Tournament play is a different thing, it's not just another five-game series or three-game series. This is all about a pretty long tournament of one-day cricket."You've got to find a way to build your way into the tournament and make sure you're playing your best cricket at the back alley. That's one thing Australian teams have always done. They've tended to play their best cricket in the World Cups and when it has mattered in the big games.
"Australia's got a very proud history. I know that'll be something that will be spoken about within the group. But it's also a chance for this current group of players to make a name for themselves on the world stage and a chance for them all to become World Cup winners as well."
"The fact that Aaron Finch has just had a bit of success lately as captain and had got himself back into the runs after a pretty lean 12 months with the bat, that'll give him a lot of confidence going into this World Cup," Ponting said. "To beat India in India for him as a captain is a big feather in his cap."
