ICC World Cup 2011: Ricky Ponting hopeful of Australia’s chances
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes that the recent results before the ICC World Cup 2011 do not count for much.
“I don’t really care where we start the tournament. It’s irrelevant,” he stated before adding that the positions and rankings are mere numbers.
Ponting was talking to the media after the Australian team arrived in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to prepare for the event which gets underway from 19 February.
He stated that the buzz before the World Cup adds to the build-up of the tournament, but no one can really predict the winner based on recent performances.
He recalled how the team was surrounded by ‘negativity’ in the previous World Cup in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 before the cricket extravaganza kicked
off in September 2007.
“...there were a few doubts around our team (in the last World Cup), but we went there and won,” Ponting said, highlighting the fact that the lead-up to the tournament has no effect on how a team fares during the World Cup.
The right-handed batsman, however, stated that he was pleased with the team’s current performance as they beat http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 6-1 in the recently concluded seven-match ODI series.
He told the media that the team is buoyant after winning against a ‘pretty good’ English side and is seeking to cash on the momentum.
However, he brushed aside the World Cup favourite talks, saying that he is not ‘bothered’ as there are many potential winners for the trophy.
He pointed out that in the Subcontinent conditions, many teams can perform. However, he rated India and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 as the standout teams for the tournament.
India have already raised the expectations of the cricket enthusiasts as the favourable conditions and their success rate on home grounds have made them the favourites to win the title for the second time.
But the 36-year-old Australian captain stressed that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, and New Zealand can also emerge as threats in the event.
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