A sixth eye
On 20 November 2024, Japan hosted a gathering of senior enlisted members from the Five Eyes intelligence partnership in Tokyo.
After Australia’s humiliating eight-wicket defeat to the Englishmen in the semi-final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, former Australia captain and assistant coach Ricky Ponting admitted that it was their weak performance in the critical moments that cost them the match.
Before the semi-finals, Australia had also lost their last league game against South Africa and finished at the second spot in the points table after the group stage.
“Unusually for Australian teams in World Cups, we played our worst cricket in the most critical moments,” Ponting told cricket.com.au, adding, “That’ll be the thing that gets spoken about the most and see if there’s any reason behind it.”
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Ponting, who was hired as an assistant coach to Justin Langer for Australia’s World Cup campaign, however, said that the Aussies were tactically good.
“Tactically, I think we got things right. Personnel-wise, we picked the best team that we could for every game,” said the World Cup-winning captain.
England will aim to win their first ever World Cup trophy when they face New Zealand in final at Lord’s on Sunday (14 July). And in case the Three Lions manage to win the coveted trophy, then according to Ponting, England will carry that momentum into the upcoming Ashes series beginning August 1.
“It probably does, to be honest,” Ponting said when asked whether England’s 50-over success could spill over.
“The country will be on a bit of a wave and a bit of a high, the players will certainly be on a huge high after that World Cup. But who knows if they don’t (win), it might have an adverse effect on their Ashes campaign as well,” said the 44-year-old veteran.
“But I’m sure if they happen to win the World Cup, they’ll take as much as they can from it going into the Ashes,” he added.
(With inputs from IANS)
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