Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has warned that if England do not win the second Ashes Test, starting 16 December at the Adelaide Oval, they are set to whitewash the 2006/07 Ashes series again. He said the conditions at the Gabba were best suited for him. England started the 2021/22 Ashes after losing the first Test by nine wickets on Saturday.
“Conditions are only going to get better for Australia. Those conditions (in Brisbane) were very English-like. There was more pace and bounce but as far as his bowling is concerned, he probably won’t get much pace anywhere else for the whole series. We saw him bowling really well in the lights on the last tour in Adelaide where everything went well,” Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
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“Australia had to bat for one session, the lights were on, brand new ball, clear night. We have been to Adelaide at other times when the pink ball did nothing, whether it was the new ball or not. If they don’t win in Adelaide then ’06-07′ colors could be there,” added Ponting, the winning captain of the 2006/07 series.
Ponting expressed displeasure over the exclusion of James Anderson and Stuart Broad from the playing XI of the first Test. “I can’t see why they would have left them (Broad and Anderson) if they hadn’t just been grooming them and prepared for Adelaide. I’m still staggered at this point. If Stuart Broad and James Anderson were in Australia There isn’t a better bowler than Chris Woakes, so I’m not here. Had to play one of those two. Maybe he’s just going to play either Broad or Anderson in Adelaide. Too much on that. Depends on how Stokes performs between now and the start of the Adelaide game.”
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If Josh Hazlewood is ruled out of the Adelaide Test due to a rib injury, Michael Neser will be replaced by endorsed pacer Jhye Richardson, 46, in the playing XI. “Richardson was clearly much closer to playing this Test than Starc. He is in excellent form. When the ball is not swinging and seaming, I will keep him ahead of Neser as far as the all-round bowling package is concerned. Neser obviously thrives in the swinging, seaming position he gets at the Gabba – and may get at some stage in Adelaide – but I still think Richardson gets permission (if needed).
Ponting signed off saying that if he had been on top, he would have given all-rounder Cameron Green more overs with the ball. Green took the first three wickets of his Test career with the ball after wicketkeeping in his first series India the last summer. “I know last summer he was on bowling restrictions but I think he is getting used to a little less. Whenever he had the ball in Brisbane, something or the other would happen. He got some swing with the old ball as well.”
“He bowls with the new ball for WA, he’s a well-known swing bowler and he (regularly) gets opportunities with the new ball (in the Sheffield Shield). Going somewhere like Adelaide where there can be some turmoil. Well, I’ll give him a little more crack too. Now you look at him and you think you can easily lock him for 15 (overs) an innings.”
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