In recent times, the Australian cricket team has been going through roller coaster ride Australia especially in ODIs, but former World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting reckons that Tim Paine’s team can turn the tide and be a force to reckon with at the 2019 World Cup in England.

The defending champions have lost as many as 16 of their last 18 ODIs and the team is yet t be recovered from the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal in South Africa which resulted in a years bans for skipper Steve Smith and deputy David Warner by Cricket Australia (CA). Coach Darren Lehmann also resigned and the reins were handed to former Australia opener Justin Langer.

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As quoted in cricket.com.au, Ricky said, “One thing I do know is we’ve got still the best depth of any cricket nation in the world and I will continue to say that. We’ll keep producing great players. It’s only 12 months away from the next one-day World Cup. The last five games — (while) the results did not quite go our way, it gave an opportunity for some younger guys to get some games under their belts. There are 16 one-dayers to be played between now and the next World Cup. I’ll guarantee you when you put the Australian group of 15 players down on a sheet of paper, that group will line up as good as any other team in the world.”

Injuries of the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood have added to the woes of Australia. Aussies’ ODI calendar is packed as they will first host South Africa and India in ODIs before heading to India and Pakistan to play in ODIs. And Ponting is confident that his former teammate Langer is building the right culture in the dressing room.

Talking about the team further, Ponting said, “The environment Justin Langer will create around that team will be a place that everyone will just get better, they’ll just improve, they’ll love the environment. I’m really excited about what the future holds not just right now but for the next 20 years. We are a passionate cricket nation that keeps producing good players. We’ve got some seriously good players that at their best will challenge any team in the world in any conditions.”