Ricky Ponting turns the tables on England amid Pat Cummins furore
The Aussie cricket legend has leapt to the defence of the nation's under-fire Test skipper.
Ricky Ponting has leapt to the defence of under-fire Australia captain Pat Cummins, insisting England opposite Ben Stokes should be the one feeling the pressure after failing to win back the Ashes. Rain wrecked England's chances of levelling the Ashes series at 2-2 as the fourth Test ended in a draw that saw Cummins' men retain the urn.
England piled on a whopping 592 first innings runs as Cummins and his Aussie side ran out of ideas to counter England's batting onslaught. The Aussie skipper was belted for career-worst figures of 1-129 and was also slammed for chopping and changing his field settings and reverting to a short-ball barrage that Victorian cricket great called "unwatchable", before suggesting Cummins will "resign" as skipper after the series.
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Ponting has been critical of Cummins' defensive fields throughout the series and questioned his decision to hand Josh Hazlewood the new ball at Old Trafford, rather than take it for himself. However, the former Aussie captain says the level of criticism aimed at Cummins has been over the top, and pointed to the fact the visitors are 2-1 up in the series and have retained the Ashes.
The respected commentator said if any captain was under pressure it should be Stokes, despite England's assertions they would have won the fourth Test and should at least be level in the series with one Test to play at The Oval. Ponting says while he understands some of the scrutiny around Cummins, he insists captains can't be expected to get decisions right 100% of the time.
“I think Pat’s done a terrific job... for a couple of hours on day two (at Old Trafford), things looked like they were getting out of control, but the captain can’t be expected to have the exact right answer 100 per cent of the time,” Ponting told the ICC Review podcast. “I don’t think it’s got the better of Pat – in fact, for Australia to be 2-1 up where they are right now you’d have to say that Pat’s done a terrific job.
“Everyone’s been talking about how England have outplayed Australia... if that’s the case, maybe there’s some questions to be asked about Ben Stokes’ captaincy then. If the fact is they’ve outplayed Australia and are still trailing in the series, I don’t think there should be too many questions about Pat, that’s for sure.”
Ricky Ponting says Aussies will learn from fourth Test belting
Ponting believes the Aussies will have learnt valuable lesson after the chastening hiding dished out by England's batters at Old Trafford. Cummins' men now turn their attentions to The Oval, where a win or draw in the final Test will seal Australia's first series win in England since 2001.
“I felt for him a little bit there because England were playing so well, they really had not much to lose, and Pat being a bowling captain had probably been put under more pressure than he’s ever been put under in his captaincy career,” Ponting said. “They’ll all learn something about that and hopefully they’ll be better prepared for the last Test match at The Oval.”
The London venue has typically been favourable to spin and with dry conditions expected, Ponting believes the Aussies will recall Todd Murphy after the off-spinner was left out the fourth Test for returning all-rounder Cam Green. The Aussie great thinks Green and Murphy will once again be locked in a selection battle after praising the form of resurgent all-rounder Mitch Marsh.
“The decision will come down to Murphy and Green again I think... Mitch Marsh’s form is irresistible, you can’t leave him out,” Ponting added. “He’s not put a foot wrong yet with the bat. Even his second innings in Manchester, I thought the maturity he showed there and the willingness to be able to change his game a fraction for what the team needed says a lot about him as a cricketer.”
Marsh is one of two players under an injury cloud having reportedly pulled up a "little bit sore" after the fourth Test, while Mitchell Starc hurt his left shoulder and will also need to prove his fitness. As well as Murphy, fast bowler Scott Boland is another option to come back into the side as well as swing bowling quick Michael Neser, who also offers plenty with the bat.
with agencies
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