Ricky Ponting picks two key players for Australia ahead of ODI World Cup 2023

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has named two key players who are likely to play a major role in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which commences in October 5 in India. He opined that Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa must shine if Australia have to win the 50-over World Cup title. Notably, Starc has been the leading wicket-taker in the last two ODI World Cups and was instrumental for the team in 2015 World Cup at home, taking 22 scalps in eight matches. 

Starc, according to Ponting, has been effective for a long time in white-ball cricket. The 48-year-old also highlighted how he dismissed Suryakumar Yadav twice with the new ball in the recent ODI series against India, stating that his numbers in white-ball cricket are phenomenal. Notaly, the 32-year-old picked up eight scalps in the first two ODIs of the recently concluded series in India, including a fifer in the second ODI.

"It's the overall package of Mitchell Starc. He's six-foot-five, bowls in the high 140-km per hour, he's a left-armer and he swings the new ball back in as Suryakumar found out. When he's on song, he's as good as anyone in the world and has been for a long time," Ponting said on the latest episode of the ICC Review.

"For lots of strange reasons, there has always been people willing to sit back and take potshots at Mitchell Starc for some of his performances. But if you have a cold hard look at the facts, particularly in white-ball cricket, his numbers are absolutely outstanding," he added.

Adam Zampa is going to be one of Australia's trump cards: Ricky Ponting

Ponting further stated that Adam Zampa has been a key bowler for Australia in all white-ball cricket for long along with Starc and the leg-spinner will be one of Australia's trump cards in the upcoming championship event.

"He's probably been Australia's key bowler in all white-ball cricket for a long time, along with Mitchell Starc. Starc has been great but Adam Zampa for four or five years now has been a real revelation," said Ponting.

"He's been the backbone of the Australian bowling attack which probably led to him being a little bit disappointed not to be picked on a Test tour to India. For a leg-spinner to become a very, very consistent performer, it's very rare that teams get on top of him and get hold of him. He's going to be one of Australia's trump cards for sure," he added.