Ricky Ponting predicted a run feast in excess of 700 runs when the world champions meet South Africa in their final World Cup Group A match on March 24.
BASSETERRE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting predicted on Friday a run feast in excess of 700 runs when the world champions meet South Africa in their final World Cup Group A match on March 24.
Ponting told a news conference at Warner Park he had not seen South African Herschelle Gibbs make one-day international history by hitting six sixes in an over against the Netherlands earlier in the day.
But the Australian skipper, who hit five sixes in his 113 against Scotland at the same venue on Wednesday, said he was not surprised.
"Having played on that ground, it's very, very small," he said. "With the way the guys are hitting the ball these days, it didn't really surprise me.
"I think 350 is very much a par score out there, it's just so small a ground. The straight boundaries are really small. I mishit a few the other day to the top of the grandstand. If we bat first then we are going to have to make a really good score to be competitive."
Australia scored 334 for six from their 50 overs against Scotland, a tally topped by South Africa on Friday who amassed 353 for three from 40 against the Netherlands in a rain-shortened match.
The Australians, who are aiming for a World Cup hat-trick in the tournament which ends in Barbados on April 28, play the Netherlands on Sunday.
Unsurprisingly, Ponting was not asked any questions about the Dutch but plenty about the South Africans, who displaced his side as the world number one in the International Cricket Council rankings last month while the Australians were losing five matches in a row.
"They are a very good team and have been for a long time," he said. "They are the number one ranked one-day side in the world now, they must be doing something right.
"We have a great rivalry with South Africa and have done for a long time in both test cricket and one-day internationals. I expect the game to be a real good contest."
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