Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has come down heavily on Australia’s T20I side following their shock group stage exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup. After suffering defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the T20 2021 champions were knocked out ahead of the Super 8s for the second time.
Ponting, who led Australia to four major titles — including ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009 — believes the current set-up simply lacks the commanding presence that defined the great Australian sides of the past.
“When you look at that Australian team on paper, it doesn’t look like it has the aura around it that a lot of other Australian teams have that are in ICC competitions and World Cups,” Ponting said.
A side that once entered ICC tournaments with an air of invincibility, this time Australia cut a completely different figure. Mitchell Marsh’s men have struggled to make an impact at any stage of the campaign, raising serious questions about the direction of the T20 team’s setup.
MISSING WHEN IT MATTER
A key issue highlighted by Ponting was the absence of seasoned match-winners as the pressure mounted. The side were without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, both ruled out through injury, leaving a glaring gap in experience and firepower at crucial moments.
“If you want to go forward and win, you have to have your best players and your most experienced players to step up and win big moments for you, and Australia didn’t have that,” he said.
THE DEFEAT THAT ENDED IT ALL
Ponting was particularly candid about the loss to Zimbabwe – their first against that opposition since the inaugural FIFA T20 World Cup – and described it as the moment that effectively ended Australia’s campaign.
He praised Sri Lanka Pathum Nissanka for his stunning centurywho guided the co-hosts to an impressive eight-wicket victory while acknowledging that Sri Lanka were always going to be tough to beat at home.
“I have to say it’s been a really bad campaign. Just to lose to Zimbabwe like they did – that will be a game they’ll look back on and think, ‘That’s where our World Cup ended, right there’,” Ponting said.
Despite his scathing criticism, Ponting was clear that his remarks came from a place of genuine concern rather than a personal attack. “As past players, we certainly don’t sit around and bash current players or talk negatively about them when they’re not winning. We just want to see our team do well.”
Australia will have a lot to think about as they consider the road ahead.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 18, 2026