Former Australian captain and the ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting named his best three players in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 which is currently being held in India.
Ponting, who led Australia to the World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, is currently in India as a commentator and has named three players including one of his countryman and two South African players.
The first name in Punter's list was Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who has now 19 wickets in the World Cup and is leading wicket-taker in this mega event.
"It's very hard to go past Adam Zampa, the leading wicket-taker in the tournament," Ponting said.
"He played the first two games and took no wickets and he has bounced back now sits up top with 18 or 19 wickets.
"He has been outstanding."
The second name on Ponting's list was Quinton de Kock, which comes as no surprise as he's the leading run-scorer of this tournament with 550 runs in eight innings.
"Quinton de Kock has four hundreds in this World Cup and it's probably his last World Cup," Ponting noted. "It's very hard to go past him as he has led a very strong South African batting brigade."
Third and last was the Proteas' emerging all-rounder, Marco Jansen, who has 16 wickets and 143 runs and has emerged as one of the best players in the world.
"The last one, I'm actually going for another South African in Marco Jansen," Ponting added.
"What he has been able to provide South Africa with the new ball taking wickets upfront, setting up their bowling innings with Powerplay wickets and also contributing with some handy low order runs."
It must be noted that Ponting captained Australia in three World Cups — 2003, 2007 and 2011 — and to this date, he remains the second skipper with West Indies' Clive Lloyd (1975 and 1979) to win the mega event twice.
- Ricky Ponting