February 26, 2025: Australia’s ICC Hall of Fame member Ricky Ponting has expressed his optimism about Australia’s prospects in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, despite the absence of their star pacers – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazelwood. The former Australian captain believes that even without the trio, the team has shown resilience and strength, with their bowling lineup stepping up in their absence.
Ponting, speaking on The ICC Review, was impressed with how the Australian team adapted to the challenges of their opening match against England. He noted that although the team was slightly underdogs at the start, with the odds seemingly tilted 75-25 in England’s favor heading into the second innings, Australia’s ability to turn the match around was a critical moment in the tournament. “That could be really good for a team going forward,” Ponting said, reflecting on the value of tough tournament experience.
Australia’s victory against England in the opening match of the tournament was nothing short of historic. Thanks to a remarkable century from Josh Inglis, who scored 120* off just 86 balls, along with partnerships from Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell, Australia successfully chased down a mammoth 352-run target with five wickets to spare. This not only marked the highest-ever run-chase in ICC ODI events but also set a new record in the ICC Champions Trophy, surpassing the previous record of 345 runs chased by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Inglis’ outstanding knock was a major highlight, and Ponting was full of praise for the young Australian wicketkeeper-batsman. “Inglis was absolutely magnificent,” Ponting commented. “He’s now made a hundred in every format for Australia… That was a game on the line, the team needing him to stand up.” Ponting lauded Inglis’ composure, his versatility with the bat, and his ability to accelerate the innings in crucial moments, especially in high-pressure situations. The fact that Inglis was able to switch gears seamlessly against the pace attack of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer stood out as a key feature of his knock.
Ponting also touched on the young bowlers filling in for the injured Cummins, Starc, and Hazelwood. Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, and Ben Dwarshuis have had to step up, although the new pace trio faced a tough challenge against England. While Johnson and Ellis were wicketless in their spells, Dwarshuis showed promise by taking 3/66 in his 10 overs.
Looking ahead, Ponting remains confident that Australia will continue to be competitive in the tournament. His optimism stems from the team’s ability to dig deep in the absence of some of their key players, proving that they can still mount strong challenges. “Every time Australia puts a team on the park, you know they’re going to be very competitive,” Ponting added.
As the tournament progresses, Australia’s focus will remain on backing their emerging players, with the hope that more match-winning performances like Inglis’ will ensure their successful path to the later stages of the tournament.