"You have to show faith in champion players" - Ricky Ponting wants Australia to field an unchanged XI in BGT 2024/25 2nd Test
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting would not make any changes to the XI that lost to India in the Perth Test. He believes the players deserve to be trusted and the management should thus stick with the same side for the second Test against India at the Adelaide Oval, beginning on December 6.
Australia, previously undefeated at the Optus Stadium in Perth, crashed to a 295-run defeat against the visitors in the first Test of the five-match series, conceding a 1-0 lead. The hosts' batting unit looked listless and failed to capitalize on the bowlers' effort, who had skittled India for 150 on day one. With an improbable 534 to win in the fourth innings, they managed only 238.
Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, here's what Ponting said:
"I’d be sticking with the same side. I think you have to show faith in champion players and a lot of the guys that we’re talking about in this team have been champion players. Maybe not for a little while, but they have proven their ability on the big stage."
Australia captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald had strongly denied the possibility of making any changes for the second Test. However, they admitted the needed to pull up their socks for the remainder of the series.
"Virat went back to trusting his game and he looked like a different player in the second innings" - Ricky Ponting
Ponting also advised the home side to counter-attack Jasprit Bumrah in a calculated way instead of merely looking to survive. The 49-year-old cited Virat Kohli's example, observing how it worked for the 36-year-old. He added:
"You have to find a way to take risks and put it back on those guys because you know Bumrahs of the world they're not going to give you too many easy scoring opportunities and when they do you've got to be ready to pounce on it and put it away and try and put some pressure back on them. Virat went back to trusting his game and he looked like a different player in the second innings than he did in the first innings. He got away from trying to combat the opposition and focused on his strengths. That’s what Marnus and (Steve) Smith need to do - find their own way and show great intent."
Australia are yet to lose a pink-ball Test in Adelaide.