Ponting convinced Australia are still scary

Ricky Ponting has obviously not noticed how rival teams have been buoyed by Australia’s five-match ODI losing streak. The rest of the World – particularly Sunil Gavaskar – has celebrated Australia’s slump and some squads genuinely believe the defending champions are ready to be dethroned.

Ponting is not convinced and still thinks Australia’s recently mis-firing weapons will scare any opponent. “All the players from other teams would be fearing us more than anybody else, and hopefully through the tournament we’ll be giving teams reason to fear us,” Ponting said in the Courier-Mail. He might be right about Scotland, who Australia play in St Kitts on Wednesday, but New Zealand, South Africa and England have successfully worn away Australia’s aura over the past year.