T20 World Cup 2024: Ricky Ponting names key Australian players to watch out for

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Former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, has shared insights into the performances of key Australian players in the tournament, looking ahead to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to take place in the USA and West Indies next month.

In a detailed analysis, Ponting highlighted various players' contributions and areas of improvement. Travis Head's aggressive approach and fearless mindset received praise, emphasizing the importance of confidence in T20 cricket.

“He's not worried about the negative of getting out. (In T20 Cricket) You've got to go out there and try in the first ball for six. If it comes off, it comes off. You're away, your team's away," Ponting said.

“(Earlier) he was worried about what someone might have said or what the media wrote if he got out playing a certain shot, rather than just going out and backing himself and scoring runs. So for me, that's been the real change in him,” he added.

Ponting discussed David Warner's initial success in the tournament, noting a setback due to a hand injury but expressing confidence in Warner's ability to bounce back for the World Cup.

“He actually started the tournament really well. His scoring rate was really good,” Ponting added. “At the start of the tournament, he was opening the batting for us with Mitchell Marsh, and that combination was working really well.”

“He (Warner) didn't really hit scores, and then he got a nasty hit on his hand. Basically, had the worst bone bruising and his contusion on the back of his hand that he's ever seen.”

“He's a feisty little competitor that once the World Cup comes around, he hits the Australian colours back on again.

“Then I've got no real concerns about him.”

Regarding Mitchell Starc, Ponting mentioned challenges faced in certain conditions but believed Starc would excel in different settings, hinting at his potential impact in the upcoming World Cup matches.

“The expectation that comes with the price tag sometimes it makes players push out a little bit harder and try to do more than they need to do.” Ponting said.

“You know, conditions where Mitch is bowling at Eden Gardens, the ball didn't really swing much there this year, and the ground is like, like it's a small ground and the outfield's like concrete," Ponting noted.

“And when you're bowling at Starc's pace, inside edges that just make their way through the field end up going for four.

“It's not the easiest place in the world to bowl fast, but, you know, if we go to the Caribbean where the wind's a little bit slower and the ball's not flying off the bat quite as hard, then Starc will have an impact.”

Ponting also touched upon Mitchell Marsh's leadership qualities, acknowledging his injury concerns but endorsing Marsh's natural fit as a captain and his positive influence on the team.

“He still, obviously, he left us at Delhi as well four or five games into the season with a hamstring tendon injury that I'm not sure he's quite over just yet,” he said.

“But talking about (captaincy) he's a rookie, but captaincy sits really well with him," Ponting added.

“He's never going to be anyone that overthinks it too much.

“He'll take responsibility for what he needs to have tactically and I think, you know, one thing I know about Mitch is all the players love him.

“All the players respect him and will love playing under him.”