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Ricky Ponting Names Australian Bowling 'DUO' as Key Factor To Their Success in WC 2023

image-lg1rocpfStarc was the leading wicket-taker in 2015, 2019 WC [AP Photos]

Australia did the unthinkable and beat India on their home turf to clinch a rare One-Day International (ODI) 2-1 series win last month. One of the key factors was Australia's bowling attack led by Mitchell Starc, who decimated the Indian batters, claiming eight wickets in three ODIs.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has pointed out that two major players in the squad could decide the nation's fate in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 due in India later this year.

Speaking to the ICC Review, the former three-time WC-winning player said that Starc, along with leg-spinner Adam Zampa, will hold the key to Australia's success come October.  

Starc is regarded as one of the finest left-arm bowlers of the generation and has all the skills and talent to back that up as seen in the ODIs, where he became almost unplayable with the new and old ball.

Zampa, might not be the flashiest but gets his job done. Zampa claimed four wickets in the series but remained economical as ever, choking the batting unit with his variations. 

Here's what Ponting said

"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. 

(Zampa) He's probably been Australia's key bowler in all white-ball cricket for a long time, along with Mitchell Starc.  But he's an outstanding performer. 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."

​Ponting further explained that heading into the marquee event, Australia needs to lock in their batting line-up as well, which could look something like — Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell.