Melbourne: Former cricketer-turned-commentator Ricky Ponting on Tuesday (December 29) criticized Australian batsmen for requiring intent while facing Indian bowlers on the fourth day of 2nd Test in the ongoing Test series.
So far Australia’s batting has failed to click, with the team getting bowled out for scores of 191, 195 and 200 in three of the four innings. Ponting expressed major concerns at Australia’s lack of partnerships but mostly at the rate at which they are scoring runs.
India secured a remarkable eight-wicket win in the second Test after a degraded defeat in the first match at Adelaide where they had scored their lowest ever Test score 36.
“(Australia) made 191 there (in Adelaide), 195 and 200 here. That’s not batting in Test match cricket. And the worry I’ve got is how long it takes them to get those runs. That’s my issue,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.
“They’ve got to show some more intent. They can’t be scared of getting out. They’ve got to go out and bat and score runs and they’ve got to get them quicker than two-and-a-half runs an over.”
The legendary batsman said the national selectors “have got more questions to answer now than they have had in a long time”. He said if the Australians were trying to apply themselves and bat for long periods of time, they “haven’t been good enough to do that” as can be seen in Adelaide and at the MCG.”
“They’ve scored at two-and-a-half runs an over in Adelaide and here (in Melbourne) and they did (that) against India in the last series out here (and) that was also another losing series.”
“I think they need to have a good look at how they’re playing.” In the two Tests so far, Australia’s highest individual score is Tim Paine’s unbeaten 73 in Adelaide, while there have only been three partnerships worth more than 50.
“It’s all about partnerships and they haven’t had any partnerships through the first couple of games,” said Ponting, one of the most successful captains ever in world cricket. “The cracks are probably painted over from Adelaide.”
Ponting admitted that star batsman Smith is fighting and he needs to get back to form if Australia have to stay alive in the series. So far, Smith has scored 1, 1 not out, 0 and 8 in the four innings.
“Right now, Smith basically hasn’t been there, Warner hasn’t been there and Marnus has made a couple of 40s but had all sorts of luck and not been able to capitalize. They need Warner back, they need Smith to score runs, they need Labuschange to find the form of last summer as well,” said the legendary batsman.
“… those three players are so vitally important to this Australian line up. We saw the last tour out here (in 2018-19) with Smith and Warner not being there how frail Australia looked then,” he signed off.
The next Test is scheduled to take place in Sydney Cricket Ground starting from January 7-11.
