Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Tim David can win Australia another World Cup – Ponting | Ricky Ponting says Australia should pick Tim David
Australia legend Ricky Ponting says the defending T20 World Cup champions should pick Tim David for this year’s tournament. The former captain, now commentator and Head of Strategy at Hobart Hurricanes, believes David is the kind of player that can get Australia over the line in their title defence.
While Australia did win last year without David, a number of teams will be aiming for improved displays down under in October. So, Australia need to look to improve themselves, and Ponting believes the big hitter could be the final piece of the puzzle.
“If I was a selector, I would love to have someone like that in my team,” Ponting said. “If he’s playing or not, just to have that sort of striking power ability around, he’s an out and out match-winner.
Tim David can be like the Andrew Symonds of 2003 – Ricky Ponting
Ponting compared David’s hitting to the late Andrew Symonds, who tragically passed away earlier this year. Specifically, the former captain looked back on Symonds’ incredible 2003 World Cup campaign – a tournament that Symonds came into under lots of pressure but had Ponting’s backing.
“He’s [David] the sort of player that could actually win you a World Cup. He’s not just the average run-of-the-mill guy that might just sneak into a squad,” Ponting said.
“I mean, he actually reminds me a bit of someone like an Andrew Symonds back in the 2003 World Cup. You know if you get them in and you give him an opportunity they’re a chance of winning a tournament for you. That’s how I’d be looking at him right now. I know there are some other great world-quality players in the middle order for Australia. But probably none of them boasts the resume as good as Tim’s over the last two years.”
ALSO READ: Why Australia must select Tim David in the T20 World Cup
David should have played more in IPL 2022 – Ponting
Tim David has been terrific in T20s around the globe, including the IPL where he delivered spectacular performances. Mumbai Indians dropped him after just two matches, but he then showed what he is capable of.
“He’s been incredible in almost every tournament that he’s played around the world, the last 12 or 18 months,” Ponting said. “He was probably a little bit unlucky not to play more in the IPL this year to be honest, with the way that he started with Mumbai and then didn’t come back until right near the end and played some match-winning knocks then.”
For Australia, they have the task of fitting him into the XI. The likes of Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade have previously spoken highly of David, but where he slots in is cause for debate.
On paper, Steve Smith’s place looks most under threat. Smith, before the Sri Lanka series earlier this year, was told to shed the ‘anchor’ tag and play with total freedom. However, Australia will need to make a call as to who could play that role better in a big tournament – Smith or David.
The 2022 men’s T20 World Cup will kick off on October 16 as Sri Lanka take on Namibia. Australia’s first match will be against New Zealand on October 22 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
