Australian legend Ricky Ponting predicted Prithvi Shaw’s exact way of dismissal seconds before he was bowled for a duck on the second ball in the ongoing historic first-ever day-night Test match against Australia.
Before the game kickstarted at Adelaide, Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the team got off to a worst-possible start as their opener Prithvi Shaw was dismissed for a second-ball duck, which was also his first-ever duck in his Test career.
Ricky Ponting was in the commentary box at that time when the game began with Starc leading with the ball and Prithvi Shaw taking guard for Virat Kohli’s side. In the commentary box, Ponting explained how Shaw has a tendency to leave a gap between his bat and pad while playing in-coming deliveries. He said:
“If he does have a chink in his armour it’s the ball which does come back into him,”
He added:
“He’s very comfortable playing the ball away from his body. He does get his head in line with the ball but he doesn’t commit his front foot to the line of the ball and quite often leaves a big gap between bat and pad and that’s where the Aussies will target,”
Before the dismissal of Shaw, Ricky Ponting in commentary –
“He doesn’t commit his front foot to the line of the ball – leaves gap between bat & pad a lot – this is were Australia should target Shaw”.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 17, 2020
And on the very next delivery, Prithvi Shaw was dismissed in the same way as Ponting had predicted. Shaw went for a drive on the up without moving his feet and got an inside edge that dragged it onto his stumps.
The video of the same has been going viral on social media. Here, watch the video:
“If he does have a chink in his armour it’s the ball which does come back into him…
“Quite often leaves a big gap between bat and pad and that’s where the Aussies will target.” @RickyPonting at his peerless best for the Prithvi Shaw wicket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4nh67zBcpU
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 17, 2020
Meanwhile, fans are calling the prediction an ‘IPL impact’. Ricky Ponting is well aware of the weaknesses of Prithvi Shaw as the two have been working together for Delhi Capitals in IPL for two seasons now.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Ponting knows prithvi Shaw very well as he is the coach of Delhi Capitals
— Ashwath (@AThadishetty) December 17, 2020
That’s well known.big Q is what punter is doing with DC then ?
— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan روہت جگلان۔ (@rohitjuglan) December 17, 2020
— $h@shw@t10 (@ShashT10) December 17, 2020
If Punter Says it..,it is got to be correct…. The Punter effect…
— Avinash (@ashgoel_) December 17, 2020
Same way of getting dismissed again and again… Ipl or test… I don’t see any difference
— Rohit Bhardwaj (@imRo57) December 17, 2020
Ricky Ponting nails this one like the pro that he is. Terrific call right at the start #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KzYIyfZt8l
— Anand Datla (@SportASmile) December 17, 2020
The only time Ricky Ponting was wrong, was when he thought he had made a mistake. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SRASf7ecMs
— Fair Dinkum Sports (@SportFairDinkum) December 17, 2020
