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NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Ricky Ponting Names Surprise Opener For Australia In WTC Final: "Might Be Pushed To..."
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that Marnus Labuschagne will "might be pushed" to open with regular opener Usman Khawaja for the next month's World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord's. While most of Australia's playing XI appears settled, a few key questions remain. There's uncertainty over who will open alongside Usman Khawaja, concerns over Labuschagne's recent lack of runs, decisions to be made about Cameron Green's role in the lineup, and a close call between Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland for a spot in the pace attack. Earlier this month, Australia announced a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming summit clash, which begins on June 11. Head coach Andrew McDonald has stated he will finalise the playing XI only after the team assembles in London ahead of the match. "I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up the order to open the batting with Khawaja. I think Green will bat at three and Steve Smith will be at four. Then it's Travis Head five, Beau Webster six, Carey at seven, Cummins eight, Starc nine and Lyon 10," Ponting said on The ICC Review. "And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one. It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team," he said. Ponting believes the biggest selection dilemma facing Australia is what to do with Labuschagne — specifically, whether he can step up and open the batting in Test cricket for the first time. Labuschagne has managed just one Test century since the end of 2022 and recently struggled in two County Championship games for Glamorgan. Meanwhile, promising teenager Sam Konstas is knocking on the doors, should the selectors choose to hand him a high-stakes debut in the one-off Test. Despite Labuschagne's dip in form, Ponting expects Australia to back the experienced batter, pointing out that the selectors may follow a similar approach to the one they took with David Warner ahead of the previous WTC final. "I actually think that they will go with Labuschagne. Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that," Ponting said. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final. "Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks," he concluded. Listen to the latest songs, only on
United News of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Ponting picks Australia XI for World Test Championship Final
Sydney, May 30 (UNI) ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has revealed the playing XI he thinks Australia will use in the one-off ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa. Earlier this month, Australia named a strong 15-player squad for the Ultimate Test at Lord's starting June 11 and coach Andrew McDonald has already indicated he will wait until the side convenes in London prior to the contest before he settles on the make-up of the final XI. While the majority of Australia's XI looks well settled, there are still some question marks surrounding who will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of Australia's batting order, the lack of runs for former No.1 ranked batter Marnus Labuschagne, just where star all-rounder Cameron Green slots into the side and which pacer is preferred out of Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland. Ponting discussed all of these issues on the latest episode of The ICC Review, with the former Australian captain going out on a limb and predicting exactly how he thinks the Aussies will line up. "I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up the order to open the batting with Khawaja," Ponting declared. "I think Green will bat at three and Steve Smith will be at four," he said. "Then it's Travis Head five, Beau Webster six, Carey at seven, Cummins eight, Starc nine and Lyon 10," Ponting said. "And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one. It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team," he said. Ponting thinks the biggest dilemma selectors will face will be what to do with Labuschagne and whether he is capable of pushing up the order and opening the batting at Test level for the first time. Labuschagne has just one Test century to his name since the end of 2022 and failed to make much of an impression in two matches for County side Glamorgan earlier this month and the Aussies have Sam Konstas waiting in the wings should they want to provide the brash teenager with a baptism of fire in the one-off Test. But Ponting expects Australia to put their faith in Labuschagne, citing the path selectors took with former opener David Warner prior to the last World Test Championship Final may be replicated once again. "I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne," Ponting said. "Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that," he said. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final," Ponting said. "Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod," he said. "Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks," Ponting added. Ricky Ponting's predicted Australia XI for World Test Championship Final: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood. UNI BM
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Ricky Ponting Back Arshdeep Singh's Inclusion For 1st England Test: "If India Don't..."
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh should be included in India's playing eleven for their upcoming Test series against England, starting on June 20 in Leeds. Arshdeep has been a mainstay in India's T20I team with 99 wickets in just 63 games. In first-class matches, Arshdeep has picked 66 wickets in 21 games. Ponting has also had a chance to have a close look at Arshdeep (18 scalps) by being his head coach at Punjab Kings, who are now in the playoffs of IPL 2025, and will face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur on Thursday. 'I've had a good chance to get to know him really well. He's a great character to have around the team. He's a fun-loving guy. He's very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like,' said Ponting on The ICC Review show. 'As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody.' 'I think it's well deserved. I think he'll bowl well in England as well. I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He's very skillful. I think the Duke's ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don't do it, then it'll be a bit of a surprise to me," added the former Australia captain. Arshdeep also had a stint in the County Championship with Kent in 2023, picking 13 wickets in five matches, with his best bowling figures being 3-58. 'He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well.' 'Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he's going to get decent we know in England, the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. To have someone that's got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer, I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour.' Quizzed on his process behind taking PBKS to the playoffs for the first time since 2014, in what is also Ponting's first season as their coach, the legendary Australian batter elaborated on the three principles he brought to the franchise. 'The three keywords that I brought this year were being different, being daring, and being dynamic.' 'That's not just the playing group, that's through the whole organisation. The inclusion thing for me is always a big one. We've got not just about 25 players here. We've got over 100 people who are hopefully all on the same journey together. We're heading in the same direction, and me making them feel a part of the journey is a bit of the reason why we're all here.' 'It's just the end of the qualifying rounds and the big stuff is yet to come, but so far cricket's been very, very good. It's been a fun time to be around the team. And I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks bring,' he concluded. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Hans India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Ponting urges India to include Arshdeep in playing eleven for Tests against England
New Delhi: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh should be included in India's playing eleven for their upcoming Test series against England, starting on June 20 in Leeds. Arshdeep has been a mainstay in India's T20I team with 99 wickets in just 63 games. In first-class matches, Arshdeep has picked 66 wickets in 21 games. Ponting has also had a chance to have a close look at Arshdeep (18 scalps) by being his head coach at Punjab Kings, who are now in the playoffs of IPL 2025, and will face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur on Thursday. 'I've had a good chance to get to know him really well. He's a great character to have around the team. He's a fun-loving guy. He's very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like,' said Ponting on The ICC Review show. 'As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody.' 'I think it's well deserved. I think he'll bowl well in England as well. I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He's very skillful. I think the Duke's ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don't do it, then it'll be a bit of a surprise to me," added the former Australia captain. Arshdeep also had a stint in the County Championship with Kent in 2023, picking 13 wickets in five matches, with his best bowling figures being 3-58. 'He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well.' 'Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he's going to get decent we know in England, the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. To have someone that's got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer, I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour.' Quizzed on his process behind taking PBKS to the playoffs for the first time since 2014, in what is also Ponting's first season as their coach, the legendary Australian batter elaborated on the three principles he brought to the franchise. 'The three keywords that I brought this year were being different, being daring, and being dynamic.' 'That's not just the playing group, that's through the whole organisation. The inclusion thing for me is always a big one. We've got not just about 25 players here. We've got over 100 people who are hopefully all on the same journey together. We're heading in the same direction, and me making them feel a part of the journey is a bit of the reason why we're all here.' 'It's just the end of the qualifying rounds and the big stuff is yet to come, but so far cricket's been very, very good. It's been a fun time to be around the team. And I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks bring,' he concluded.
Int'l Cricket Council
3 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Ponting urges India to start left-arm quick in England Tests
On the latest episode of The ICC Review, Ponting backed the 26-year-old's character, work ethic, and technical strengths that he felt will make Arshdeep a valuable asset for India on the crucial tour starting next month. 'I've had a good chance to get to know him really well. He's a great character to have around the team,' Ponting said of Arshdeep, who he coaches in the Indian Premier League at the Punjab Kings. 'He's a fun-loving guy. He's very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like. 'As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody. 'I think it's well deserved. I think he'll bowl well in England as well.' Having been a mainstay in India's T20I setup with 99 wickets across just 63 games, the left-arm seamer's maiden Test call-up also comes on the back of his exploits in red-ball domestic cricket as well, with 66 wickets coming across 21 first-class matches. 'I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He's very skillful,' Ponting noted. 'I think the Dukes ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don't do it then it'll be a bit of a surprise to me.' Arshdeep Singh wins Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year | ICC Awards 2024 India's Arshdeep Singh has taken out the Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards 2024. Ponting further iterated that the seamer's previous county experience will come in handy for India. During his County Championship spell with Kent last year, Arshdeep picked up 13 wickets in five Division 1 games, with his best bowling figures being 3/58. 'He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well,' Ponting noted. 'Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he's going to get decent we know in England the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. 'To have someone that's got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour.' Arshdeep has been in sizzling form during the IPL this season, taking 18 wickets in the league phase to guide Ponting and Punjab to the top of the table. Punjab face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of the tournament at Mullanpur on Thursday with a spot in the title decider awaiting the winner. Incredible left-arm pacer shines for India | Every Wicket of Arshdeep Singh | T20WC 2024 This is their first time in the playoffs since 2014, in what is Ponting's first season as their coach. He said that his vision for change at the franchise came with three principles that he integrated across the franchise. 'The three keywords that I brought this year were being different, being daring and dynamic,' Ponting said. 'That's not just the playing group, that's through the whole organisation. The inclusion thing for me is always a big one. 'We've got not just about 25 players here. We've got over 100 people that are hopefully all on the same journey together. We're heading in the same direction and me making them feel a part of the journey is a bit of the reason why we're all here.' As the playoffs loom, Ponting remains focused but upbeat, aware that the job is not yet done but confident in the culture and leadership that have brought them this far. 'It's just the end of the qualifying rounds and the big stuff is yet to come, but so far cricket's been very, very good. It's been a fun time to be around the team. And I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks brings.' The ICC ReviewRicky PontingArshdeep SinghNews
