Ricky Ponting wants Aussie player dropped for semi-final

Ricky Ponting has made surprising public comments as Australia heads into a do-or-die Cricket World Cup semi-final.

There’s no delicate way to say this — Ricky Ponting wants Marcus Stoinis dropped from Australia’s side for the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

The former Aussie Test captain made the surprisingly bold comment as Mitch Marsh led Australia to a win over Bangladesh on Saturday night.

The Aussie cricket icon was put on the spot as the world continues to debate what Australia’s best side looks like after a World Cup that has been riddled by injuries and issues — like Glenn Maxwell’s infamous golf cart incident.

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Australia has timed its run perfectly, however, with all 15 members of the squad available for selection for Thursday night’s do-or-die showdown with South Africa at Eden Gardens.

With Steve Smith cleared of his vertigo issues and Maxwell back to his swashbuckling best — it is no secret it will be either Stoinis or Marnus Labuschagne who gets the chop.

The public commentary appears to have shifted in Labuschagne’s favour in recent days because of his consistency with the blade.

Ricky Ponting teaching Pat Cummins everything he knows. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.

Speaking on the Fox Cricket broadcast, Ponting appeared to disagree that the Aussie side is stronger with Stoinis in the middle order — revealing inside information that Labuschagne would have been dropped for Australia’s previous win over Afghanistan if Smith had been fit.

“If Steve Smith had passed his fitness test, which he didn’t, then Labuschagne was the one missing out and Stoinis was staying in the side,” Ponting said.

“So I think at the moment Australia feel that is their strongest team, without Labuschagne in it.

Marcus Stoinis and Pat Cummins. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

“But if you actually look at the numbers through this series, he hasn’t done a bad job, second leading run scorer ... and I know the most important phase for Australia through this tournament they haven’t got right yet is their middle order batting. They haven’t got that right and they need to fix that quickly.

“If you’re going to win the World Cup, you’re going to have to fix those overs 11 to 40, because so far in the tournament they’ve lost 12 more wickets in that period of time in the tournament than what India have through the whole tournament, India have only lost 20 wickets through that phase.

“I probably would [retain Labuschagne]. I mean even today we’ve seen Australia have gone to Mitchell Marsh’s bowling before they used Stoinis.”

Aussie coach Andrew McDonald also spoke about the selection issue last week, saying it could come down to the conditions on the day.

Marcus Stoinis of Australia. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“We’ve seen what Stoin’s been able to do with four players out after the first 10 (overs),” McDonald said.

“His ability to bowl a heavy ball, bring energy to the crease, and he’s got some different defensive skills as well. We feel as though he can complement at certain stages the frontline bowling.”

Aussie great Shane Watson, however, said on the World Cup TV broadcast that Labuschagne would be needed to balance Australia’s batting if the Aussies bat in the difficult conditions under the lights.

“He’s someone who has done a very good job for Australia throughout this World Cup, and as well Marcus Stoinis hasn’t set this World Cup alight yet,” Watson said.

“What we’ve seen in this World Cup, is if Australia end up batting second in a semi-final, that period with those two new balls swinging around, you do need your best technically equipped batters who can handle that moving ball.

“Marnus Labuschagne, with the Test skills, he’s got the ability to be able to handle a moving ball. There is a chance that Australia will have to bat second under lights, and he’s done a very good job of that throughout this tournament.”