"Scoring Quicker Now Than Adam Gilchrist": Ricky Ponting Compares Travis Head With Australia Great

08.06.2023 - 12:13 sports.ndtv.com

After the left-hander moved the momentum of the ICC World Test Championship Final towards his side with a magnificent century on the opening day in London, Australian great Ricky Ponting is at ease comparing Travis Head to Adam Gilchrist.

On an action-packed day at The Oval when Australia dominated, Head delivered his first Test century in England and the sixth of his career with a magnificent unbeaten 146* from just 156 deliveries.

A compelling 251-run unbroken partnership between Travis Head (146 not out) and Steve Smith (95 not out) was the highlight of the first day of the World Test Championship Final 2023, as Australia finished at a strong 327 for three at the end of the day's play.

With his team in trouble at 76/3, the brash No. 5 came to the crease, but he produced a blow that made Ponting think of his former teammate Gilchrist. "He probably is (similar to Gilchrist).

cricket Australia Cricket Team Ricky Ponting Steve Smith Travis Head Adam Gilchrist Australia India

Former captain Ricky Ponting has offered technical advice to Australia batters Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head to counter England's bowling attack ahead of the second Ashes Test starting Wednesday at the Lord's. Australia won the opening Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham by two wickets in what was the first match of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle. There were a number of impressive individual performances, but Labuschagne and Head struggled in the Ashes opener.

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

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.

"Had A Very Ordinary Game...": Ricky Ponting Questions Star's Place In England's Test XI

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that England have some selection issues to deal with and suggested that wicket-keeper batter Jonny Bairstow's errors were one of the main reasons England lost the first Test. Moeen Ali had a finger injury on Day 3 of the Test, limiting his bowling abilities. Bairstow has been chastised for his glove failures in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston. "As far as I'm concerned now, England have more questions to answer than Australia. On their style of play, but also now looking at that first Test, they've got some selection issues that they're going to have to deal with as well," Ponting told ICC.

Ricky Ponting says he turned down the England Test cricket head coach job before Brendon McCullum was appointed

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says he was offered the job as England’s Test cricket head coach before Brendon McCullum took on the role. McCullum, alongside captain Ben Stokes, has helped England adopt an aggressive style of play which has come to be known as ‘Bazball’. Ad Despite an impressive start to their leadership — which saw them win 11 of their first 13 matches in charge — McCullum and Stokes have work to do after going 1-0 down in the Ashes series with a two-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Edgbaston.

'Was Approached By England Before Brendon McCullum': Ricky Ponting Makes Shocking Revelation

Australia's World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting has revealed that he was approached for the England Test coaching role before Brendon McCullum took over last year. After an embarrassing 0-4 Ashes defeat Down Under, the England men's team set up went through a massive overhaul with McCullum and Matthew Mott replacing Chris Silverwood as the Test and white-ball coaches respectively. Test skipper Joe Root also stepped down from captaincy while batting mentor Graham Thorpe and managing director Ashley Giles also lost their jobs.