Ricky Ponting, a member of the ICC Hall of Fame, has indicated the strategy his old team should employ to tie the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and disclosed the playing XI Australia will choose for the second Test match against India.
Jasprit Bumrah and his colleagues feasted on a faltering Australian batting lineup to secure a commanding 295-run victory, making Australia appear second best during the first Test match against India in Perth.
Ponting wants no changes made to the lineup for the pink-ball match in Adelaide, while admitting that Australia was far from their best in the first Test.
In an interview with broadcaster Sanjana Ganesan for the latest episode of The ICC Review, Ponting said, “I’d be sticking with the same side.”
“I believe that you need to have trust in champion players, and many of the men on our squad have been champions.
“Maybe not for a little while, but they have proven their ability on the big stage.”
Marnus Labuschagne, a former No. 1 Test batsman and important top-order player, has come under fire for his performance in the opening Test. Since he scored two half-centuries against Pakistan in January, the right-hander’s Test cricket average has significantly decreased.
In two knocks in Perth, Labuschagne only managed two and three points.
Regarding Labuschagne, Ponting stated, “He’s really got to find a way to turn it around.”
“Marnus appeared to be the most hesitant batter in Perth. He needs to figure out a way to improve it, even if it was excellent bowling on a challenging ground.
Ponting mentioned the mental toughness he and his fellow hitters undergo while attempting to return to their peak form, and Labuschagne was instrumental in leading Australia to their maiden World Test Championship victory at The Oval last year.
Ponting emphasized how crucial it is to have an aggressive mentality, especially when facing elite bowlers like Bumrah, who destroyed the Australian lineup with a crucial five-wicket haul in the opening innings.
Ponting clarified, “You have to figure out how to take chances and put pressure back on those guys because you know Bumrahs of the world won’t give you a lot of easy scoring opportunities. When they do, you have to be ready to jump on it, put it away, and try to put some pressure back on them.”
Ponting used Virat Kohli’s century in the second innings in Perth as a shining illustration of this strategy.
Kohli helped India set a huge mark of 534 for Australia after being knocked for just five in the first innings. In the second innings, he returned to record his 30th Test century.
Ponting stated, “Virat looked like a different player in the second innings than he did in the first innings and he went back to trusting his game.”
He stopped attempting to counter the opponent and concentrated on his advantages. Finding their own path and demonstrating a strong sense of purpose are what Marnus and Steve Smith must achieve.
Australia has a critical chance to recover in the Adelaide Test, and Ponting thinks that changing their perspective might be the secret to realizing their full potential.
Instead than focusing on getting out first, consider scoring runs first. For a hitter, that’s always difficult, particularly when you’re not playing well. “Being positive and demonstrating great intent is the only way to change it,” Ponting said.
In addition to congratulating fellow Tasmanian and all-rounder Beau Webster on receiving his first call-up to the Test team, the ICC Hall of Famer supported Mitch Marsh to keep his place in the squad for the match, which starts on December 6, if he is deemed fit.
“Beau deserves congratulations. He has played consistently excellent all-around cricket for three or four years,” Ponting remarked.
“Unless there’s a problem with Mitchell Marsh after that first Test match, which I hope there isn’t, because you would think that Webster’s only position in that team would be that of an all-rounder.”
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