With the conclusion of England‘s enthralling Take a look at collection in opposition to India, cricketing consideration has already shifted to the approaching Ashes 2025-26 collection in Australia. In a major piece of study, former Australian captain and legendary batsman Ricky Ponting has provided his perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of each groups.
Ponting’s remarks, delivered together with his attribute candor, have targeted on what he believes is essentially the most essential issue for England’s success, the efficiency of their dynamic opening pair, whereas additionally revealing a shocking degree of uncertainty surrounding Australia’s personal top-order lineup.
Ricky Ponting picks 2 England gamers who maintain the important thing to their Ashes 2025-26 marketing campaign
Ponting is adamant that the fortunes of England’s Ashes marketing campaign will relaxation on the shoulders of their openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. He firmly believes that their aggressive, high-risk ‘Bazball’ method isn’t just a method however a strategic necessity for the crew. Ponting stated to The Occasions: “I feel they will [play a similar way in Australia], and they’ll undoubtedly attempt… It’s the way in which they naturally play and it’s the way in which the coaches and captain need them to play. It’s the way in which they should play, it simply units up the whole lot for England, placing fast stress again on the bowlers,”
Ponting’s evaluation highlights how this aggressive technique, which was on full show within the Oval Take a look at the place the openers placed on a 92-run stand, can be utilized to unsettle Australia’s bowlers on their residence turf. He emphasised that this method forces the opposition to adapt shortly and that if the pair can carry out nicely on the prime, it’ll present a vital platform for the remainder of the crew. “They most likely maintain the important thing in Australia. If they will bat rather well on the prime, and set issues up, that can give them a superb likelihood within the collection,” Ponting added.
This view is supported by their spectacular statistical report for the reason that McCullum-Stokes period started, as they’re the one opening pair to have scored over 2,000 runs in Checks throughout that point, sustaining a formidable common of 46.5.
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The uncertainty plaguing Australia’s batting order for the Ashes 2025-26
Whereas Ponting believes England’s opening pair would be the key to their success, he has additionally pointed to a shocking quantity of uncertainty inside Australia’s batting lineup. Regardless of being the reigning champions, Ponting suggests the house facet just isn’t as settled as one would possibly assume, notably on the prime of the order. Ponting famous that the opening rounds of the Sheffield Protect competitors shall be paramount in figuring out the ultimate alternatives.
“There’s most likely extra uncertainty in regards to the Australian line-up. They’ve been speaking at residence about how necessary the primary few rounds of Sheffield Protect cricket are going to be for these top-order batters. The bowling group will take care of itself,”
He particularly talked about that gamers like Marnus Labuschagne may be thought of for a gap function if the present choices, reminiscent of Sam Konstas or Usman Khawaja, don’t carry out nicely within the early home matches. Ponting additionally touched upon the place of Cameron Inexperienced, who’s now again within the facet at quantity three and is bowling once more, although he questioned how a lot the crew would require him to bowl given the presence of all-rounders like Beau Webster.
“Marnus [Labuschagne] shall be within the combine and so they would possibly return to him as an opener if it doesn’t work out for [Sam] Konstas, and even [Usman] Khawaja, within the early rounds of Protect cricket. Cameron Inexperienced is again within the facet at three and is bowling once more, though I’m unsure how a lot they’ll need him to do. With Beau Webster within the facet, they don’t really want him as a lot as they used to. Australia are going to have loads of choices with the ball,” Ponting concluded.
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