Cricket legend Ricky Ponting is maintaining faith in Australia despite Pat Cummins’ team being a “fair way off the mark” in their World Cup opener.

Australia’s 50-over campaign is already precariously placed heading into Thursday night’s clash with red-hot South Africa in Lucknow.

India smashed Australia by six wickets on Sunday as the tourists struggles against spin in Asia extended into white-ball cricket.

Dual World Cup-winning captain Ponting believed Australia could still respond due to the long nature of the tournament.

The 13th edition of the ODI World Cup involves 10 teams that will play nine matches each.

Alex Carey. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“Australia, to me, looked to be a fair way off the mark,” Ponting told the ICC podcast of the performance against India.

“You can’t afford to be 0-2 in a World Cup. We know how important it is to finish up the top of the table.

“But I’ve still got full faith in their squad. It is a very good squad, a very talented squad.”

Experienced allrounder Marcus Stoinis is available for selection against the Proteas after missing the clash with India due a hamstring injury.

Australia’s middle-order crumbled on Sunday, losing 3-9 as Cameron Green’s spot in the XI appears shaky.

“He (Stoinis) was pretty touch and go for that first game,” veteran allrounder Glenn Maxwell told reporters on Wednesday.

“And I think with the travel days and the timings of the training session, he probably only missed the first game by maybe a day.

“I’ve been speaking to him a fair bit being close mates and he says he feels ready to go and he’s excited and frustrated that he obviously couldn’t be out there for the first game.

“He’s a big energy for our team and someone who obviously is a matchwinner and someone you need in these types of tournaments.”

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s struggles in Indian conditions continued after he endured a difficult Test series with the bat earlier this year.

The 32-year-old was out for a duck in eerily familiar fashion to Indian spin master Ravindra Jadeja on Sunday.

Maxwell refuted suggestions by former Australia Test captain Tim Paine that Carey had been struggling since the fallout from the infamous Jonny Bairstow dismissal during the Ashes.

“I think there’s been enough water under the bridge since then,” Maxwell said.

“He seems in really good spirits and he’s keeping really well … The other night he just got his bat caught behind on his pad which can happen sometimes.

“I feel like every batter has made that mistake, where you’re trying to get forward and just clip your pad and it deflects it a little bit.”