Ponting and co are expected to win (Allsport).
RICKY PONTING
Born: 19.12.74
One-day internationals: 157
Batting: Right Hand (Avge: 41.33)
Bowling: Right Hand Medium (Avge: 34.66)
Catches: 54
Ponting may have the best squad in the world at his disposal, but he faces the unenviable task of living up to the demands of an Australian public which accepts nothing less than complete success.
And the irony that his side are clear favourites to win the World Cup will not be lost on a man whose penchant for gambling earned him the nickname 'Punter'.
His path to the Australian one-day captaincy has been far from smooth, with two off-the-field incidents and the confession that he had an alcohol problem seeing him dropped from the side in 1999.
But he has been a fixture at the top of the order ever since and became the first Tasmanian to lead his country when he was named as Steve Waugh's successor in March 2002.
His dynamic strokeplay and electric fielding have been crucial ingredients in Australia's pioneering of a new brand of aggressive limited-overs cricket.
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