An Australian who loves Bazball: Ricky Ponting makes surprising confession
Since McCullum took charge, England have undergone a radical transformation, dominating most home series. But Ponting noted the style didn't click immediately.'When it first started, it looked like Joe [Root] got carried away a bit. He changed his game. He's gone back to playing normally. Ollie Pope is naturally aggressive and scores quickly. Stokes might have the lowest strike rate since it began, while Duckett and Crawley are leading the way,' he said.According to Ponting, this refinement was crucial to England's success against top teams.INDIA'S MISSED CHANCES - KEY LESSON FOR AUSTRALIAPonting also pointed to India's struggles against Bazball as a lesson for Australia. He believes India's inability to adapt quickly allowed England to fight back for a 2-2 draw in the recent series.'They probably hold the key in Australia. If they can bat really well at the top and set things up, that will give them a good chance in the series,' he said. 'It's the way England naturally play, and it just sets up everything for them, putting immediate pressure back on the bowlers. You have to adapt really quickly, and that's where India have let themselves down.'With the next Ashes still some way off, Ponting's comments suggest Australia are already thinking ahead — and that Bazball's evolution will remain a central talking point in world cricket.- EndsTrending Reel
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
Test Cricket Needs Quality Not Quantity To Stay Alive: Australia Chief
Australia cricket chief Todd Greenberg on Wednesday said a slimmer Test calendar could benefit smaller nations because the five-day game was better "where it means something". Marking 100 days until the home Ashes series against England begins in Perth, Cricket Australia CEO Greenberg suggested quality not quantity was important in keeping the red-ball game viable. "We're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket," he told reporters. "We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something. "That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is -- because it means something." England have just completed a thrilling 2-2 home drawn series against India in front of sold-out crowds. At the same time, New Zealand and Australia romped to easy overseas Test series wins against uncompetitive West Indies and Zimbabwe teams respectively, leaving question marks over the quality of Test cricket in those countries. One idea is to create two or more divisions of Test cricket to keep it competitive, but Greenberg said he did not have a strong opinion on the ideal number of Test-playing nations. "Let's consider what the future might look like," he said. But the five-day game remained in rude health in Australia, Greenberg said, where interest in the Ashes had been "off the charts". "This will be the biggest sports event in Australia this year," said Greenberg. "The interest is quite extraordinary with ticket allocations for 11 of the 20 days on sale already exhausted." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Test cricket needs quality not quantity to stay alive: Australia chief Todd Greenberg
India won the fifth and final Test vs England at The Oval (Getty Images) Australia cricket chief Todd Greenberg on Wednesday said a reduced Test calendar could help smaller nations, as the five-day format thrived most 'where it means something.' With 100 days to go until the home Ashes series against England begins in Perth, the Cricket Australia CEO stressed that quality, not quantity, was key to keeping red-ball cricket strong. "We're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket," he told reporters. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something. "That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is -- because it means something." England recently wrapped up a thrilling 2-2 home series draw against India in front of sold-out stadiums. In contrast, New Zealand and Australia cruised to easy overseas Test series wins against the struggling West Indies and Zimbabwe respectively, raising doubts over the competitiveness of Test cricket in those nations. One proposal is to introduce two or more divisions of Test cricket to maintain competitiveness, though Greenberg said he had no firm view on the ideal number of Test-playing nations. "Let's consider what the future might look like," he said. According to Greenberg, the five-day game remained in excellent health in Australia, with Ashes interest 'off the charts.' "This will be the biggest sports event in Australia this year," said Greenberg. "The interest is quite extraordinary with ticket allocations for 11 of the 20 days on sale already exhausted." Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Boland backs Australia to thrive against England in Ashes if wickets stay consistent
Veteran seamer Scott Boland has backed Australia to thrive against England in this year's Ashes if wickets in the country stay consistent and bowler-friendly to counter the visitors' aggressive 'Bazball' approach. The five-match Ashes series starts in Perth on November 21. "They're going to play aggressively. If the wickets stay similar to what they've been over the last few years, I think we're going to be in the game all the time." "There were little parts of the England tour last time, when the ball sort of moved around and favoured the bowlers, but generally over there, the wickets have been a bit flatter. And then when you come to Australia, certainly the last three or four years, they've been bowler friendly," Boland was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, on the sidelines of making 100 days to go for the Ashes in Melbourne. Boland claimed 18 wickets at an average of 9.55 in his debut Ashes series against a pre-Bazball England team in 2021/22. But he managed to pick only two wickets at 115.50 in last year's Ashes in England. With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ahead of him in the pecking order, Boland stated he is prepared to give his best if given the opportunity. "I've obviously thought about it a lot since it happened in 2023. But I still think there were times in England where I bowled pretty well and just didn't get a wicket. I'm a better bowler than I was back then. I'm going to be in our conditions that I know really, really well. I'm hoping to put in some good performances," he added. He also believes Australia may not field a four-man fast-bowling attack during the Ashes, citing Nathan Lyon's effectiveness at home and the likely availability of all-rounder Cameron Green as a seam bowling option. "I hope so, but probably not in Australia. Nathan's one of the best spin bowlers in the world, so I think he can bowl in any conditions. He's probably been the glue to our bowling line-up over the last few years." "And then I probably see Greeny (Cameron Green) coming back and bowling a lot more, he obviously hasn't bowled for 12 months, so that probably hurts the chances of four quicks as well," he added.
