ST GEORGE’S, April 21: Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes spinner Brad Hogg will play a key role when the champions take on South Africa in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final in St Lucia.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Hogg took four for 29 as Australia thrashed fellow last four side New Zealand by a massive 215 runs in the trans-Tasman rivals' final Super Eights match.

Only Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath (22) has taken more than Hogg's 19 wickets at this World Cup.

And having already defeated South Africa by 83 runs in a group match last month, Ponting was confident former postman Hogg, and the likes of part-time spinners Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds, could help deliver another victory against the Proteas, known for a weakness against slow bowling.

“South Africa probably won't play a spinner in their side. Those conditions and the way our spin bowlers are going, probably give us a bit of an edge,” Ponting said.—AFP