Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels captain Pat Cummins has made a big mistake by not picking a specialist spinner in their bowling attack for the ongoing fourth Ashes 2023 Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Ricky Ponting Slams Pat Cummins For Committing A Big Blunder
Ever since the Australian cricket team announced their playing XI with three seamers and two seam-bowling all-rounders, many reckoned that the decision to not play Todd Murphy could come back to haunt the team.
However, speaking to SKY Sports Cricket, Ricky Ponting explained why Pat Cummins could have picked the best possible XI from the options available. He said:
“It is a big decision (to not play a spinner) but looking at the wicket it doesn’t look like it will turn much. There’s a nice grass covering and the surface underneath is hard. It is likely to play in a similar way to the one in Headingley last week earlier in the game with overhead conditions around.”
He added:
“For Australia, they have to play this Test match with the intention to win and not just draw, and that’s how I think they have picked their eleven, giving them the best chance to win. Don’t get defensive or else you’re playing right into England’s hands.”
Mark Butcher And Ian Smith Also Slammed The Decision
Meanwhile, former England cricketer Mark Butcher, who was also present there, joined the discussion and came up with a completely different opinion. He said that he couldn’t believe that the team dropped a specialist spinner and also talked about how they have made their bowling attack one-dimensional. He said:
“I think England are a better-balanced side in this Test and at Headingley than the one in the first Two Tests. Australia not playing a spinner just blows my mind. It seems like a defensive move. You have a long-range forecast which could change and they don’t have the ability then to change things up if things don’t work out for the seamers.”
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith also slammed the decision, claiming Australia could be left red-faced over the coming days. He said:
“They would never have considered this if Nathan Lyon was available,” Smith told SEN NZ.
“That’s just total lack of faith in Todd Murphy. Absolute total lack of faith, and they might get burned by it if they’re able to get five reasonable days of cricket and the pitch at Old Trafford starts to turn.
“They might get embarrassed and caught short here and level the series.”
But it has to be noted that there is a lingering threat of rain in Manchester this week, and the added moisture won’t assist spin bowlers as the match progresses.
"Australia not playing a spin bowler blows my mind" 😮
Mark Butcher and Ricky Ponting discuss the changes to the teams ahead of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford pic.twitter.com/KT6vwOIyWb
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 19, 2023
