Australia defeats mystify Ponting

Ponting admits 'too many mistakes'

Captain Ricky Ponting was at a loss to explain how Australia were bundled out of the ICC World Twenty20 after heavy defeats by West Indies and Sri Lanka.

"It's disappointing to go out of the tournament and I can't explain why.

"The training was spot on and there was a good attitude but in the big moments we haven't been able to play and we made too many mistakes," he said.

The Aussies lost by six wickets to Sri Lanka, with five balls to spare - two days after suffering a bigger defeat.

But while the seven-wicket loss to West Indies with more than four overs to spare could partly be put down to Chris Gayle firing spectacularly with the bat - and Australia being rusty - this time there were other factors to consider.

"We knew that it would be a huge challenge against Sri Lanka's spinners," stated Ponting. "We knew we had to play them well. We didn't do that and Sri Lanka deserved to win the game.

"Now we have to move on as quickly as possible and focus on the Ashes."

606: DEBATE Could it be a blessing in disguise for the Aussies as they get a lot of time to prepare for the Ashes? kooldudej

Australia have two official warm-up matches ahead of the first Test, the first starting on 24 June against Sussex at Hove, but they may now try to schedule something extra.

Ponting reflected on Australia's all-too-brief stay in the World Twenty20 as the two teams who beat them were able to start making plans for the Super Eights.

"We lost early wickets in the first game against West Indies and got hit with an onslaught and weren't able to get into that game," he added.

"Today was probably the opposite - we got off to a decent start, lost some wickets in the middle and had a good rally at the end, so 160 was a pretty good effort.

"But there were too many mistakes, too many no-balls - I hate to think how many runs were scored off our extra balls - and unfortunately we've gone out in straight sets.

"We've got to change things quickly. Whether it's different personnel or different attitude towards the game I'm not sure but we felt we had picked out best squad and our best cricket hasn't come out."