Ponting upbeat about Aussie's title defence

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Mar 11 (Reuters) Captain Ricky Ponting was confident Australia had right mix to defend their World Cup crown and said they could cope with the loss of injured pace bowler Brett Lee.

Australia, bidding for an unprecedented hat-trick of World Cup triumphs, start the tournament in the Caribbean as favourites despite losing their number one ranking to South Africa.

''We like to think that we are as well equipped as anyone else to win the World Cup this time around,'' Ponting told a news conference ahead of today's opening ceremony.

''In the last few years we have had a really good mixture of youth and experience in our squad and I think we have that this time around as well.

''I am really excited about the group of players that we have here, talent wise and also having the right mix of people around the group.'' Ponting will be without the services of opening bowler Brett Lee who was ruled out of the competition with an ankle injury but said he was sure he had enough penetration in his bowling attack.

''Of course he is one of the top ranked one-day bowlers in the world, so when you are missing someone like that from your team it is a big gap to fill. But I've got confidence that the other guys in the squad can do that.

''The other day Shaun Tait stepped up in the practice game against England and took four for 33 and with the way he bowls, these conditions will be able to help him out at different times so hopefully he can step into Brett's shoes.

''There will be a good opportunity for Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark and those guys to put their hand up as well in Brett's absence. I think the beauty of our squad at the moment is our flexibility.

''Let's hope if the senior guys can get their jobs done some of the younger guys will stand up and make a name for themselves as well.'' The Aussies lost their top spot in the world rankings after losing five straight one day internationals, a slump in form that gave heart to their challengers in the Caribbean.

But Ponting said his team have learnt their lessons and have now put those defeats behind them.

''All the guys have forgotten about that, got over that and are pretty confident in themselves and confident that we can play some pretty good cricket in the next six weeks,'' he said.

Australia begin their campaign against group A opponents Scotland on Wednesday before going on to face the Netherlands and South Africa.

Reuters DKS VP0220