Within the aftermath of Gautam Gambhir’s much-publicised spat with Oval head groundsman Lee Curtis forward of the fifth England-India Take a look at, an incident that additionally adopted England coach Brendon McCullum in dialog with Curtis, pitch preparation has develop into an excellent hotter speaking level in cricket circles. The Oval floor, notably, reverted to a standard English pitch for that last Take a look at, a departure from the batting-friendly tracks rolled out within the first 4 matches of the sequence.
In opposition to that backdrop, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has made it clear that he doesn’t anticipate any such behind-the-scenes requests from his nation when England arrive for the Ashes in November.
“It’ll be fascinating to see which approach we put together our tracks,” Ponting informed The Instances.
“I don’t assume the Aussies shall be saying something to the groundsmen. Definitely by means of my time I didn’t converse to the groundsman, and even my coaches didn’t converse to him. They at all times anticipated them to organize the very best wicket they might … I don’t actually know which approach England need it. They most likely play their finest cricket once they’ve bought flatter pitches, as a result of that’s what they want for his or her batting, however in Australia they most likely want one thing within the wickets to assist their bowling.”
Ponting’s remarks come at a time when England’s ‘Bazball’ method stays one of many sport’s most polarising matters. Whereas some critics argue the ultra-aggressive batting technique encourages useless pitches and sidelines the competition between bat and ball, the bulk, Ponting included, discover it thrilling to observe.
“I’m as Aussie as anybody and I like watching the best way they [England] play. The Aussies embraced it and learnt about it the final time they had been right here,” Ponting stated. “They’ll have an understanding now of what’s a barely extra refined model of what England began a number of years in the past.”
Ponting on England at Ashes
The legendary former Aussie captain believes England are able to adapting their high-tempo method to Australian situations.
“I feel they’ll [bat aggressively in Australia], and they’re going to positively strive. It’s the best way they naturally play and it’s the best way the coaches and captain need them to play. It’s the best way they should play — it simply units up every thing for England, placing fast strain again on the bowlers. You [the fielding side] must adapt actually rapidly. They most likely maintain the important thing in Australia. If they’ll bat very well on the high, and set issues up, that may give them a great likelihood within the sequence,” stated Ponting.
