Strong Start With Bat At Top Will Be Key To Englands Ashes Hopes, Says Ricky Ponting
"I think they can (bat aggressively in Australia), and they will definitely try. It's the way they naturally play, and it's the way the coaches and captain want them to play. It's the way they need to play - it just sets up everything for England, putting immediate pressure back on the bowlers."
"You (the fielding side) have to adapt really quickly. 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 added.
He also believes England have recently shown the ability to adapt their ultra-attacking Bazball approach and avoid being one-dimensional. "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 pretty quickly. Stokes might have the lowest strike rate of all the batters since it began (he does). (Ben) Duckett and (Zak) Crawley are the two leading the way. So there's been some refinement, and against the best teams they needed it," he said.
Ponting further said it is unclear what kind of pitches will be prepared for England in the upcoming Ashes. "It'll be interesting to see which way we prepare our tracks. I don't think the Aussies will be saying anything to the groundsmen. Certainly, throughout my time, I didn't speak to the groundsman, and even my coaches didn't speak to him."
"They always expected them to prepare the best wicket they could... I don't really know which way England want it. They probably play their best cricket when they've got flatter pitches, because that's what they need for their batting, but in Australia they probably need something in the wickets to help their bowling," he said.
Ponting signed off by hoping England get a good fast bowling attack for the five-match series in Australia. "England are praying they'll have Archer and Wood fit. If they are, they'll have a crack with both of them in Perth and Brisbane, and then try to mix and match them for the rest of the series."
"Archer adds so much to their line-up, that bit of extra pace that lifts everyone's energy. And he's done well against Australia in the past, and so has Wood. If they get both of them right, the attack looks pretty strong. Gus Atkinson looked good, and he'll bowl OK in Australia."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Vengsarkar backs Gautam Gambhir in Oval curator spat, hits out at Hayden's remark
Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar backed India head coach Gautam Gambhir for his spat with the Oval pitch curator during the fifth and final Test against England, also responding to comments made by Australia legend Matthew Hayden. The verbal spat took place when Gambhir, who was having a close look at the pitch along with the support staff, was stopped by the chief curator of the stadium, Lee Fortis, for getting too close to the surface two days before the Test would engage in a spat with Fortis, where he told him that he was just a 'groundsman.' The incident sparked debate, and Hayden suggested that Gambhir 'could have used better language' when speaking to the curator. Hayden felt the Indian coach should have toned down his response, even though he was entitled to check the pitch before the crucial match of the however, came to the defence of Gambhir and said that he has the right to see the pitch before the game. The Indian legend also said that the coaches and captains of teams touring India, and even their media, inspect the tracks before the match happens. 'As the head coach of the Indian team, Gambhir had every right to see the pitch from close quarters. When teams tour India, their entire squad, not just the captain and coach, examines the pitch minutely. Even their media inspects the pitch before the match. No one tells them anything. So, how are the rules different when we are playing in England?' Vengsarkar told Mumbai Mirror.'If this had happened to the Aussies, they would have used the choicest words'Vengsarkar took a dig at Hayden and said that Australia would have had 'some choice words' if they found themselves in a similar situation.'Would Hayden, or any of the Aussie cricketers, take it well if a curator had asked them to stay away from the square ahead of an important match? If this had happened to the Aussies, they would have used the choicest words to show the curator his place,' he off-field dispute had already seen India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and skipper Shubman Gill express frustration at the curator's actions. However, Fortis went from being a villain to a hero for the pitch he provided for the final Test as India won by six runs to level the series.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
‘I'm as Australian as anyone and I love watching England play,' says Ricky Ponting
England plays its best cricket on flatter pitches to help its batters, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting reckoned as both teams begin preparations for The Ashes set to begin in November later this year. 'It's the way they need to play — it just sets up everything for England, putting immediate pressure back on the bowlers. The fielding side has to adapt really quickly,' Ponting told The Times. However, according to Ponting, England won't get flat pitches in Australia to help its batting. 'They (England) probably play their best cricket when they've got flatter pitches because that's what they need for their batting. But in Australia, they probably need something in the wickets to help their bowling,' Ponting said. Acknowledging England's aggressive batting approach, Ponting believes it has slightly refined itself over with years. 'I'm as Aussie as anyone and I love watching the way England play. The Aussies embraced it and learnt about it the last time they were here. They'll have an understanding now of what is a slightly more refined version of what England started a few years ago. Also read | Coaches trust Australia's hard-hitters, says Tim David I think they can (bat aggressively in Australia), and they will definitely try. It's the way they naturally play and it's the way the coaches and captain want them to play,' he added. According to Ponting, Australians won't tell the groundsmen regarding what kind of surface they want but wasn't sure what England's demands could be. 'It'll be interesting to see which way we prepare our tracks. I don't think the Aussies will be saying anything to the groundsmen. Certainly, through my time, I didn't speak to the groundsman, and even my coaches didn't speak to him. 'They always expected them to prepare the best wicket they could… I don't really know which way England want it,' Ponting said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
WTC Final: 'They will leave India after losing' — Former cricketer doubts Australia, South Africa's chances in new cycle
Team Australia (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that Australia and South Africa — the two finalists of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle — may struggle to reach the summit clash of the next cycle in 2027. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra, who was analysing the newly drawn fixtures, said that despite Australia's dominant start to the 2025–27 WTC cycle, their path will be far from straightforward. Australia currently top the table with 100 percentage points after a 3-0 away sweep against West Indies. Bold prediction! Astrologer Greenstone Lobo picks winner of Australia vs South Africa WTC Final 2025 'Their home series are against New Zealand, England and Bangladesh. They will 100 percent win against Bangladesh. They should win against New Zealand. They should win against England as well. However, it's a five-match series, so they are unlikely to get full points,' Chopra said. Poll Which team is more likely to struggle in the next WTC cycle? Australia South Africa Both teams equally Pointing to the India tour as a potential stumbling block, he added: 'I feel they will leave India after losing to them. They might win just one match. If they win only one match, they will lose a lot of points. South Africa will challenge them again. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo So it is not that straightforward. Decent chance, but I won't say strong contenders.' Current WTC Point Table Chopra also flagged Australia's ageing bowling attack, warning of an imminent transition period that could impact results. The former opener was equally sceptical about defending champions South Africa's prospects, noting their challenging schedule. 'Australia, England and Bangladesh are South Africa's home series. Australia and England are tough, and they will beat Bangladesh. The away series are against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. South Africa have less chances. All three of their away series are in the subcontinent. They will find it difficult to even draw all three of those series,' he said. 'South Africa, in my opinion, might not qualify. There is a good chance of them not qualifying,' Chopra concluded. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
