Former captain Ricky Ponting feels the constant scrutiny of Steve Smith and David Warner following their comeback could be “unsettling” for the Australian team during the World Cup in England.
Ponting, who will be part of Australia's support staff during the mega-event, said Smith and Warner will have to be prepared for constant criticism from the UK crowd. The duo’s one-year ban for ball-tampering ends later this month, and they will feature in IPL 2019, which begins on 23 March.
“I don’t think it is much of a challenge internally around the players. You’d like to think that those guys are having conversations now, so they’re not leaving it to the last minute and just be exposed to this thing that could be derailing to a team.”Ricky Ponting to cricket.com.au
While the eyes of the cricket world are set on Smith and Warner to see if they can regain the form that made them count among the world’s best batsman at the time of the infamous Cape Town Test between Australia and South Africa which led to their ban, Ponting believes handling the public perception around the two could be Australia’s biggest challenge.
“I’m sure this would have been talked about at a higher level for a long time – how do we integrate them back in? How do they fit in? How is it all going to be seamless? But the hardest part for those guys is going to be the public perception of us, especially in England.”Ricky Ponting to cricket.com.au
A three-time World Cup winner himself, including twice as captain in 2003 and 2007, Ponting feels a thick skin will be required for all parties to ensure the focus remains on the World Cup campaign – Smith and Warner, the rest of the team, as well as the management.
“They’re coming back into a World Cup in the UK – they shouldn’t be expecting too many pats on the back over there. They’re going to cop it everywhere they go. They’ve got to know that, they’ve got to accept that and understand that. The team needs to as well, because that could also be something that could be unsettling for a team.”Ricky Ponting to cricket.com.au
Australia do still enter the World Cup as defending champions, but given the state of affairs over the last year, they won’t be going in as favourites for a change.
Ponting reckons Smith and Warner could make life easier for themselves if they are back amongst the runs.
“I think they are well equipped (to handle the scrutiny), but I think it could be a shock for them by the same token when they come back. They have to expect the absolute worst and then anything better than that is going to be a bonus for them. That would be the way I would approach it if I was them.”
“But at the same time, the way they’ll integrate themselves back in quickly and have some of the public helping them out, is for them to be scoring runs. If they’re scoring runs and the Australian cricket team is winning, it’ll be a whole lot easier.”Ricky Ponting to cricket.com.au
“If it's the other way around and they're not scoring runs and the Australian team is losing, then it's going to be hard,” he added.
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