Australia great Ricky Ponting believes his former side will obtain great belief from Glenn Maxwell’s stunning innings against Afghanistan and that it could prove pivotal in their quest for a sixth ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title.
Maxwell overcame severe cramps and a back spasm to smash an unbeaten double-century against Afghanistan on Tuesday that ensured Australia will once again feature in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
It was a knock of immense quality from Maxwell, with Ponting revealing after the match that the innings was the best he can remember.
“I have been around a lot of games playing and calling and I have never seen anything like that, and I’ll be very surprised if I see anything like that ever again,” Ponting exclaimed.
“It was the most remarkable thing you’ve probably ever seen in cricket.
“Ben Stokes’ Test innings to win it (third Ashes Test in 2019) at Headingley was something that I had never seen before and I think this one goes past that just for the sheer enormity of what it means for the Australian cricket team making the World Cup semi-finals.”
The victory was Australia’s sixth on the trot at the World Cup and now means the five-time champions will meet South Africa in a cut-throat semi-final next week for a place in the tournament decider.
Ponting thinks Maxwell’s heroics against Afghanistan might just prove the catalyst for Australia to continue their winning run, and provide them with the belief that they can go on and win another World Cup title.
“All the great teams that I’ve played with and all the great teams that I’ve been around have always had that belief that they can win from anywhere, and literally anywhere, even World Cup campaigns that I played in,” Ponting said.
“We had games where we probably shouldn’t have won, but someone was there with that belief to put their hand up and win the game.
“And that’s what I talk about with Australia in World Cups.
“They’ve got this knack of being able to just win the big moments and today was a huge moment as they qualify for the World Cup semi-finals now and hopefully onwards and upwards for them.”
