“I thought Australia would win Perth” - Aussie legend reviews BGT 2024-25 series prediction ahead of 3rd Test
Former captain Ricky Ponting has revealed that he thought Australia would win the opening Test against India in Perth but the visitors won by 295 runs. The 49-year-old, however, stood his ground over his prediction that the Aussies would win the five-game series 3-1, citing no surprise with the hosts' win in Adelaide.
He reckoned that the tourists would find it hard to bounce back after a 10-wicket loss in Adelaide but warned Australia about their ability to bounce back.
Ricky Ponting told ICC review:
“Yeah, I'll hang on to it, but I wasn't expecting India to have a one next to the name now, because I thought Australia would win Perth and I thought they'd win Adelaide."
He added:
"And where we go from here … Brisbane, obviously India played beautifully in Brisbane last time they were here. I still think they'll find it hard to win there again, especially having to find a way to come back from what happened in Adelaide. This Indian team in the past, and I'm on record saying it, a lot of the time when they've got their backs to the wall and people are doubting them is when they come out and play their best cricket.
"I still think Australia are a slightly better, well, more rounded team. And if they can just maintain the way that they played in Adelaide last week, then they'll be hard to beat in Brisbane. I’ll stick with the 3-1.”
"I still think Australia will win" - Ricky Ponting expects even battle in Brisbane but backs Australia to take a 2-1 lead
Ricky Ponting reckoned that the two teams would put up an even contest but backed Pat Cummins and Co. to take a 2-1 lead in the five-game series. He said:
"It's really hard to say what to expect after the way the first two games have gone. I mean, they've just been complete blowouts either way. So you don't really know what to expect. I've got a feeling it'll be a bit more even contest than the first couple of games. I still think Australia will win.”
Ponting added that the team that wins the toss would be prompted to bat first unless there are overcast conditions. He added:
"Generally the team that wins the toss in Brisbane will bat first and try and bat well in the first couple of days and then wait for the wicket to start offering a bit more to the bowlers later in the game. That's generally the way that teams play there."
"There's normally eight or 10mm of grass on that wicket at the Gabba. If it's cloudy and overcast, then the bowlers are going to be licking their lips early in the game and the batsmen are going to have to work really hard for their runs," he added.
Ponting added that fit-again Josh Hazlewood will be back to the Australia playing XI but there will be confusion in the Indian dressing room regarding their selections. He added:
"Australia, if (Josh) Hazlewood is not fit, will be unchanged. India have got a little bit to think about."
Despite India winning their last Test in Brisbane by three wickets, Ponting added that history favors Australia. He concluded:
"Who do I think will dominate up there? Look, it'll probably be a bowler-friendly pitch again for the first couple of days of the game. I'll back recent form up there. India have got a good record. Going through history, I think Australia only lost twice there in about 40 years. So, I'll back Australia to win at the Gabba.”
Notably, India had beaten Australia after 31 Tests in 32 years to complete a 2-1 series win in 2020/21.