Australia's Cup adversity unprecedented: Ponting

The most successful captain in World Cup history, Ricky Ponting admits the injury crisis that's ravaged Australia is an unprecedented challenge, calling on the five-time champions to find a way to play their best game of the tournament on the biggest stage.

Australia's defeat in their final group stage game to South Africa on Saturday was compounded with injuries to Usman Khawaja (hamstring) and Marcus Stoinis (side) that saw Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh pulled out of the Australia A tour to join the World Cup squad as cover.

No official decision on either Khawaja or Stoinis being permanently replaced in the World Cup squad has yet been made, while Shaun Marsh had already been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a fractured wrist in a net session.

Ponting said Peter Handscomb was likely to be thrown into the cauldron against pre-tournament favourites England on Thursday, while Wade and Marsh could also feature if they are officially added to the 15-man squad.

A three-time World Cup-winner – twice as captain – and now Australia's assistant coach, Ponting admitted the timing of the multiple setbacks marked a unique hurdle for the side that had looked on track to finish top of the standings before their stumble against the Proteas.

Australia also dealt with notable hurdles at the three 50-over trophies Ponting won in 1999, 2003 and 2007. But, asked if he'd had any quite like the ones the team is facing now, the 44-year-old admitted: "Probably not at the end of a tournament.

"I think back to 2003 with (Shane) Warne ruled out before a ball was bowled, (Jason) Gillespie played one game and was ruled out, we had Michael Bevan going into the tournament with injury and Darren Lehmann suspended going in. We had a bit going on there.

"Fast forward to 2007 and Andrew Symonds didn't play the first half of the tournament.

"It's not unusual to have disruptions in World Cups. In the last group game before a semi-final is probably a little bit different.

"If you're totally honest, it's not ideal to have these sort of changes going into a World Cup semi-final, especially now we know we're playing England. They were the favourites coming into the tournament.

"It's up to us coaches to make it as easy as possible for those guys coming in, talking through scenarios and situations and just trying to keep them as free in the mind as possible."

India jumped above the Aussies into top spot to lock in a semi-final against New Zealand on Tuesday at Old Trafford, yet Ponting believes Australia have been this World Cup's best side to date.

Having identified a perceived English weakness against left-arm fast bowling, Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff took nine wickets between them in an important 64-run win over the hosts at Lord's last week.

"We've beaten England already in the tournament. I think it's fair to say we've been the standout team of the tournament to date," said Ponting.

"A loss now, although it's not ideal going into a semi-final, it's probably not the worst thing either. It could be a bit of a wake-up, a bit of a freshen up and a bit of a reset.

"It might just make us a better team."

Ponting stressed at the beginning of the tournament that peaking at the back-end of a World Cup, rather than in the initial stages, must be Australia's major priority.

The loss to South Africa and their mounting injury toll suggests that may be harder than ever to achieve, but Ponting said they simply must find a way.

"Australia's best game has to be in the semi-final, it's as simple as that," he continued. "We've been talking about it, we've been building up, looking for that perfect game of cricket.

"As good as we've been in the tournament, we haven't done that yet and we were a long way off doing it (against South Africa).

"That's what the focus will be. It's up to the players now to find another level to beat England."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia lost to South Africa by 10 runs

July 9: Semi-Final 1, India v New Zealand, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Australia v England, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE