"If They're Not Results Driven...": Ricky Ponting's Jibe At England Test Team Post Loss In Ashes Opener

24.06.2023 - 09:49 sports.ndtv.com

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes that the added pressure after the defeat in the opening Test match of Ashes 2023 would leave hosts England with a challenging task in the second.

England's 'Bazball' style was on full display in the first Test, with the English batters sticking to their aggressive approach in both their innings.

For Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, they used an experimental field setting and it worked in their favour. However, Stokes' bold declaration on the first evening despite having wickets in hand did not pan out the way he had expected. "I think it's going to be a really, really good test for England.

Actually, I think it's going to be a good test for their style of play. I think it's going to be a good test for their leadership and their coaching," Ponting said, according to ICC. "One thing that I was looking forward to seeing most was how this style of play actually stood up against Australia.

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With the third Ashes Test scheduled to be played between July 6-10, the dust seemed to have settled over England batter Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal in the second Test at Lord's which Australia won by 43 runs to 2-0 in the five-game series. On the eve of the 3rd Test at Headingley, England captain Ben Stokes insisted it was time "everyone moved on" from the incident, which reinvigorated the 'Spirit of Cricket' debate. Former England Nasser Hussain has revealed that Australia great Ricky Ponting told him off-air that the visiting skipper, Pat Cummins, "might have to re-think his appeal".

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Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting questioned England's skipper Ben Stokes's comments on Jonny Bairstow's dismissal on Day 5 of the second Test match of the Ashes 2023 series. While many fans have deemed Bairstow's dismissal as debatable, Stokes also went on to question the decision and suggest in the post-match presentation that the dismissal occurred on the final delivery of Green's over and should have allowed Bairstow to depart his crease and speak with his captain immediately.

'Hasn't Looked Dangerous In The Series At All': Ricky Ponting On England Pacer In Ashes 2023

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that England's pacer Ollie Robinson did not look dangerous in the Ashes as he has only taken wickets of tailenders. The English bowler has taken three wickets in the ongoing second Test match of the Ashes series against Australia on Thursday at Lord's. He had also taken five wickets in the first Ashes Test. Ponting in ICC Review said, "I don't think he's looked dangerous in the series at all. I mean, if you look at the wickets, he's got the tailenders out in each game. Yes he got Marnus (Labuschagne) in this innings here. But then he got (Nathan) Lyon and then he got (Josh) Hazlewood. So if he didn't get the 10 and 11 out, then he finishes his innings with one wicket at over four runs an over."

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