Ponting Predicts Marco Jansen To A Become Top Test All-Rounder: 'One Of The...'
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Ricky Ponting praised South African pacer Marco Jansen for his competitive nature, predicting he will become one of the best all-rounders in Test cricket.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has praised South African pacer Marco Jansen for his fiercely competitive nature, predicting that he will become one of the best all-rounders in Test cricket worldwide in the coming years.
Jansen made an early impression for South Africa, forming a formidable fast-bowling duo with Kagiso Rabada, which dismantled Australia's top order on the first day of the World Test Championship Final.
While Rabada grabbed headlines with a five-wicket haul at Lord's, Jansen was equally impactful. The left-arm pacer ended with figures of 3 for 49 from 14 overs, dismissing key players Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.
'He's pretty quiet and pretty laid back. Nothing really affects him too much. Regardless of if he's had a great day or not such a great day, he remains the same person," Ponting said to ICC Digital after the first day of the WTC Final.
A finger injury while fielding on day two threatened to cut his day short, but his swift return to the bowling crease proved he was unaffected, as he removed Marnus Labuschagne for 22.
'Whether that's internally and the way that he thinks about the game or the way that he is around the dressing room. But I think like most South Africans, you can tell there's an ultra competitive streak inside him. And once he gets out on the field, then it's game on," Ponting, who coached Jansen in the Punjab Kings setup in IPL 2025, remarked.
Ponting expects Jansen to elevate his game even further in the next World Test Championship cycle, stating that there is no limit to his potential as a versatile player.
'I think he's going to be one of the best all-rounders in Test match cricket in the world in the next couple of years. I've loved working with him and I just think he's an immense talent who is still very young in his international career," Ponting added.
(with IANS inputs)
First Published:
June 13, 2025, 10:53 IST
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