Rattled by the shocking loss to Zimbabwe in the Twenty20 World Cup, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has urged his teammates to respect the shortest form of cricket or risk being embarrassed again.
The four-time ODI world champions were handed a stunning five-wicket defeat by the minnows in their tournament opener at Newlands on Wednesday night.
Ponting hardly minced words as he blamed his batsmen for letting the game slip away with their careless attitude.
"The top three batters didn't respect their own game enough. When you don't respect this game it gets up and bites you," Ponting said after the match.
"They (Zimbabwe) outplayed us. They did most things in the game better than us," he added, praising the Africans for their disciplined performance.
Ponting admitted that the Aussies paid the price for over-attacking in seaming conditions.
The tournament favourites were reeling at 19 for three after Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ponting himself departed attempting extravagant shots.
"That was where the game was lost," Ponting said, referring to the soft dismissals.
{{/usCountry}}"That was where the game was lost," Ponting said, referring to the soft dismissals.
{{/usCountry}}