Melbourne, Mar 22 (ANI): Australian coach Tim Nielsen has asked skipper Ricky Ponting to overcome his form slump and produce a big score during the 2011 World Cup.
Statistics show that Australia is much harder to beat when Ponting scores, with the side having won 24 of 29 one-day matches when the skipper hits a century.
Australia's record 12-year grip on the World Cup will end if it loses to India in their quarterfinal at the 50,000-capacity Sardar Patel Stadium on Thursday in Ahmedabad.
"It would be nice for Ricky to get a good score. It's important for us that one of our top three or four get a big score," The Herald Sun quoted Nielsen, as saying.
"It would be nice for Shane (Watson), Brad Haddin, Ricky or Michael Clarke (to score runs). We do put a lot of emphasis on our top four," he said.
"The adrenalin will certainly be flowing and playing in front of their home crowd in Ahmedabad will be exciting and a challenge for us. It's what World Cups are about, it's the right time to play India. We've got no fear," Nielsen added.
Ponting has had a poor 2011 World Cup, scoring 102 runs from five innings at 20.40.
The Australian captain appears to be in decline but his importance to Australia cannot be understated.
"Hopefully that big score will come for me," said Ponting, who made 19 against Pakistan on Saturday. (ANI)
|
|
Read More: Ahmedabad
Comments:
