COLOMBO: Australia will consider changes in a bid to prevent going from World Cup record-holders to World Cup casualty within a week.

Captain Ricky Ponting is reluctant to change the team that, until Saturday night, was destined for top spot in Group A but said the manner of their four-wicket defeat by Pakistan would compel him and the selectors to consider the alternatives.

''When you play as poorly as we have … there's no doubt there'll be some discussion about the make-up. I'm not sure if there'll be a lot of changes but we certainly have to have a bit of a think,'' he said.

Ponting said he and the rest of the batsmen had to take responsibility for the loss after setting Pakistan a target of just 177.

''There's no excuses from us. We had everything in our favour.''

Australia got closer than they deserved thanks to Brett Lee's mighty bowling performance, which included claiming the first four wickets. Pakistan's vital batsmen were the restrained Asad Shafiq (46) and the prodigiously talented Umar Akmal (44 not out). When Pakistan sealed the win, ending Australia's unprecedented unbeaten World Cup streak at 34, Akmal did not celebrate but instead dropped to his knees and kissed the turf beside the pitch.

The consequences of the loss for Australia were tied to whatever occurred in the overnight match between India and the West Indies in Chennai. A win to India, or tie or abandonment, would compel Australia to play a knock-out quarter-final against the tournament's primary hosts, while a West Indies win would pencil them in as opponents.

Batting was Australia's clear problem. Only two batsmen passed 30 - Brad Haddin (42) and Michael Clarke (34) - and there was only one partnership of more than 30: the restrained second-wicket stand between Haddin and Ponting that produced 63.

Ponting's dismissal for 19 took his batting average for the tournament to 20.4, although the captain insisted that unflattering statistic was not affecting his self-confidence.