Ricky Ponting’s ‘magic dust’ helps Australia captain Aaron Finch fire at World Cup

Aaron Finch’s monster ton against Sri Lanka has underlined a stunning return to form for the Australian captain, with batting coach Ricky Ponting integral to his ascent to the summit of the World Cup scoring charts.

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Ricky Ponting’s “magic dust” has helped Aaron Finch evolve into the World Cup’s most devastating batsman.

Three days after former England captain Michael Vaughan declared Finch the tournament’s best skipper, the brutal opener destroyed Sri Lanka with a monster century at The Oval.

Aaron Finch’s knock of 153 took him to the top of the World Cup scoring charts.

Finch brought up his 14th ODI century with a glorious six, and completed his follow through by raising his bat above his head in one hand and his helmet in the other.

Finch hugged former captain Steve Smith as hopes grow he can become just the fifth player to lead Australia to a World Cup trophy.

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Finch is now the competition’s leading run scorer.

Finch then brought up his 150 with a boundary whipped over square leg against a heavy Lasith Malinga and finished on 153 (132).

It was Finch’s equal-highest ODI score and Australia’s third-best World Cup knock, behind Matthew Hayden’s 158 in 2007 and David Warner’s 178 in 2015.

Finch leads the World Cup with 343 runs. Warner (281) is second and England’s Joe Root (279) is third.

Coach Justin Langer admitted before the tournament that “a big part of our puzzle was Finchy getting himself back into form” after he averaged 7.4 runs in five games.

As Finch’s struggles against balls targeting the stumps were exposed by India, Australia privately discussed parachuting Tim Paine in as World Cup captain.

Australia's assistant coach Ricky Ponting has helped Finch rediscover his best form.

But since that lean run Finch is averaging 73.1, striking three tons in 14 games. Former Test opener Ed Cowan declared Finch’s technique was in career-best shape.

“When (Pakistan bowler Mohammad) Amir was hooping them down the line early, he was balanced with great access,” Cowan said.

Hope I don’t put the Moz on him, but never seen Aaron Finch’s technique look better than the last two games. When Amir was hooping them down the line early, he was balanced with great access. RT Ponting magic dust?

— Ed Cowan (@eddiecowan) June 15, 2019

Ponting, who played in three winnings World Cups including two as captain, is working closely with Australia’s batsmen as Langer’s assistant coach.

Ponting speaks to Marcus Stoinis daily and had a long chat with Shaun Marsh in the nets on Friday.

Finch joked that his players acted “like eight-year-old girls around Justin Bieber” in Ponting’s presence but he was the rock star last night, creaming five sixes at his home County Cricket ground (Sussex).

Finch consistently found the ropes during a commanding innings at The Oval.

Finch hammered seven boundaries in his first 26 balls with his ball striking cleaner than soap and his innings ensured Australia was on track for its eighth World Cup semi-final.

Finch and Warner put on their fourth 50-run opening partnership. No other duo has more than one.

… BUT HE CAN’T TOSS

That’s seven consecutive tosses without a correct call for Finch — spanning all five World Cup games and the two official warm-up games.