New Delhi: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has criticised the current Australian T20I side after their shock exit from the T20 World Cup 2026. Ponting came down heavily on Mitchell Marsh & Co. as he said the current group lacked the aura of the great Australian teams in the past. He also rued the absence of some of the key players like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia were eliminated from the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 after back-to-back losses against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The Marsh-led side suffered a shock 23-run defeat against Zimbabwe in their second group game before losing against Sri Lanka by eight wickets in their last game on Monday.
Australia’s exit was confirmed after Zimbabwe’s Group B clash against Ireland was washed out due to rain on Tuesday. Zimbabwe pipped the 2021 champions to qualify for the Super 8 from Group B alongside Sri Lanka. One of the most successful sides in international cricket, Australia’s early exit has invited sharp reactions from former Aussie cricketers.
Criticising the team, Ponting said the current Australian team lacks the aura carried by the champion Aussie sides of the past. He also said the absence of the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins hurt Australia as not having your best players in a World Cup can cost the team.
“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,” said Ponting, who led Australia to four ICC titles, including twin ODI World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007.
“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.
While there were always doubts over Australia’s credentials in T20Is, they still started the T20 World Cup 2026 as one of the favourites, considering their pedigree in ICC events. However, Marsh & Co. suffered back-to-back embarrassing defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka which brought an early end to their campaign in the tournament.
The Zimbabwe defeat ended Australia’s World Cup: Ponting
Ponting reckoned that when Australia look back at their campaign, they would feel it was their shock defeat against Zimbabwe that ended their tournament. Australia lost by 23 runs against Zimbabwe in their second group-stage match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, losing their first game in the tournament.
Australia ended up conceding 169 runs and were bowled out for a paltry 149 as pacer Blessing Muzarabani’s 4-wicket haul propelled Zimbabwe to a historic win. Thanks to their stunning victory against the favourites, Zimbabwe secured their maiden spot in the Super Eight stage of a T20 World Cup.
“It’s been a really poor campaign, it has to be said. Just losing to Zimbabwe as they did — that’s going to be the game they look back on and think, ‘That’s where our World Cup ended, right there,’” said Ponting.
Australia are yet to play their final group-stage match against Oman at the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele on Friday, however, the result won’t matter as they are already out of the tournament. Their early exit leaves Australia with a lot to ponder upon for the future.