Ricky Ponting slams Australia after shock exit, says they lacked past champions' aura

T20 World Cup 2026: Ricky Ponting was heavily critical of the Australian side led by Mitchell Marsh following their shock group-stage exit after losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has come down heavily on the Australian T20I side following their shock group-stage exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup. After suffering defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the 2021 T20 champions found themselves eliminated before the Super 8s for the second time.

Ponting, who led Australia to four major titles — including the 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cups and the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009 — believes the current setup simply lacks the commanding presence that defined great Australian sides of the past.

"You look at that Australian team on paper, it just doesn't look to have that sort of aura around it that a lot of other Australian teams have going into ICC events and World Cups," Ponting said.

A side that once walked into ICC tournaments with an air of invincibility, Australia cut a very different figure this time around. Mitchell Marsh's men struggled to impose themselves at any stage of the campaign, raising serious questions about the direction of the team's T20 setup.

A key issue Ponting highlighted was the absence of seasoned match-winners when the pressure mounted. The side was without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, both ruled out through injury, leaving a visible void in experience and firepower at crucial moments.

"You need to have your best players and your most experienced players standing up and winning big moments for you in these tournaments if you want to go ahead and win, and Australia haven't had that," he said.