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AAP
Sport
Jasper Bruce

Windies' Cup result a 'disgrace': Ponting

Ricky Ponting says the West Indies' meek T20 World Cup exit is a disgrace. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Ricky Ponting has labelled the West Indies' early exit from the T20 World Cup "a disgrace" that points to a lack of commitment to international cricket from the playing group.

Having already lost to Scotland, the two-time World Cup champions crashed out of the tournament in the group stage by falling to Ireland on Friday.

Prior to their upset win in Hobart, the Irish had not advanced to the second round of the T20 World Cup since 2009.

Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt said he was "deeply disappointed" with the West Indies' 15th-placed finish, their worst result at the tournament since its inception in 2007.

Ponting shared Skerritt's sentiment.

"It's a disgrace as far as I'm concerned," Ponting told reporters ahead of the first match of the Super 12 stage.

"It's really it's so bad for their cricket.

"They've got too much talent in that team and in West Indies cricket not to be able to make it through to the next stage of the World Cup."

The West Indies' visit to Australia got off to an inauspicious start when batter Shimron Hetmyer missed his flight and was replaced by Shamarh Brooks in the squad.

"To me that sort of sums up probably how little these events mean to the West Indies players," Ponting said.

"If you look at the way that they played, you'd say the same thing.

"It's easy for me to say here and say that it's a disgrace that they haven't made it, but that they'll be hurting as much as anybody.

"They would have had big thoughts and dreams coming here and they haven't played anywhere near well enough to even progress.

"No doubt there'll be some soul-searching done when they get back."

The Irish lost only one wicket as they chased down the West Indies' 146-run total and Ponting questioned whether the Caribbean wickets had adequately prepared the West Indian attack for their trip to Australia.

"The wickets they play on now over there as well, they're really slow, low spinning tracks," he said.

"Being a fast-bowler over there now wouldn't be easy.

"But athletically there's no reason why they can't keep producing guys that can run and bowl fast."

On top of their World Cup campaign, the West Indies lost both of their T20Is to Australia and will return for two Test matches later in the summer.

"They're going to have to find a few lengths if they're going to compete against the Aussies," Ponting said.

"The current group that the Australians have got, you just line them up on paper, there's no way you think that they could compete.

"Cricket's a funny game but they're going to have to play out of their skins I think to make even the first two Tests entertaining."

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