Ponting backs pacers to fire Aussies to fourth consecutive WC title win

BANGALORE - 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)