“This team has been very impressive in their first game against England”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that the Baggy Greens “are favourites” to win the World Cup.

Ponting was impressed with Australia’s performance in their World Cup opener against England and made it clear that the national team have to maintain the same level of intensity and passion throughout the tournament.

“I think Australia are favourites,” Ponting was quoted as saying by BCCI.TV. “It is a tag that will sit well with them. Most World Cups I have been part of, we were favourites. But you don’t think about it. You just go out there, try and prepare as well as you can and go and play.

“Just because you’re the favourites going into the game doesn’t change anything. But, this team has been very impressive in their first game against England and the balance they have in the squad right now is probably as good as I have seen for a while.”

However, Ponting also sees no reason as to why India cannot retain the World Cup.

“India have got too many class players in their team to not be serious contenders at some stage,” he said. “If they happen to play as well as they can, they are very dangerous.

“I think they will get better. It was a very encouraging start for India the other day, although I thought it was a pretty weak Pakistani side.

“India got into the World Cup after a tough time in the Test series and the tri-series. But I got a feeling that they got a bit of a downtime after that and started to build things up at the start of this tournament.”

When asked what India’s main weakness was, Ponting said: “[Their] bowling is a concern; it always is. When any Indian team goes to play in Australia or similar conditions, it is always the bowling that is the weak point. Their batting, however, is outstanding. We all know that.”