Ricky Ponting Rips Into Australia's 'Really Poor Campaign' In T20 World Cup: 'Doesn't Look To Have Aura'

Former captain Ricky Ponting slammed the team's performance, stating they lacked the "aura" of past Australian teams after the defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka knocked them out in the group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Ponting criticised Australia's current team, stating they lack the presence and aura of their predecessors, who dominated global tournaments.

"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.

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: Abhishek Sharma's Torrid Run Continues, Falls For Third Consecutive Duck Despite Siraj's Jersey Gamble

Ponting criticised the top order's struggles and the absence of key players, citing injuries to pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

"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 added.

Ponting stated that Australia's T20 World Cup campaign was effectively ended by a 23-run defeat to Zimbabwe.

"It's been a really poor campaign, it has to be said. Just losing to Zimbabwe like they did, that's going to be the game that they're going to think back and think like that's our World Cup gone, there and then," said Ponting.

"I felt Sri Lanka would be difficult to beat at home and that's certainly the way it turned out. They played really well against Australia. That was an amazing run chase when you look at it. That sort of score is never an easy one to chase down.

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: Why Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel Not Playing For India Against Netherlands? Here's What Suryakumar Reveals

Ponting revealed that former Australian players were disappointed with the team's T20 World Cup exit.

"As a past player, we certainly don't sit back and bash the current players or talk about them in a negative way when they don't win. We just want to see our team do well. So, unfortunately, that hasn't happened over the last couple of weeks. And that's something that group of players has to live with," Ponting said.