Formidable late order striking team: Ricky Ponting explains what Tim David brings to Australia World Cup squad

Australia’s World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting was happy with the inclusion of Tim David in the Australian T20I squad. The former player explained what David brought to the table.

Australia’s World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting has backed the inclusion of Singapore-Australian Tim David in the 2022 T20 World Cup squad. A verbal supporter of Tim David for a while now, Ponting said that David, alongside the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade can form a formidable lower order combination.

“If you ended up with, let's say, Maxwell, Stoinis, Wade and David in that middle order there is a really formidable late-order striking team that no bowling team would want to play against,” he said.

Known as one of the best finishers in world cricket at the moment, David is one of the best the best ball strikers in the world. The ability to hit the ball hard, mixed with good technique makes the right hander one of the most sought after commodities in the franchise leagues across the world.

“He's probably 6’2, maybe touching 100 kilograms a big, strong guy that can hit the ball as clean and as hard as anyone in the world. He’s a good fielder and can bowl some part-time off-spin as well, if required.

However, David’s inclusion comes with its own problems. Former Australia captain Steve Smith’s position comes directly under threat in case David is included in the playing XI. However, Ponting said that Smith is there to shield that batting order from a downfall and it is possible that he is kept in the team despite the inclusion of David.

“They like to attack in a number three position (Mitch Marsh) and then if that doesn't work, then that's where Smith has been used in the middle to pick up the pieces after a couple of early wickets,” said Ponting.