Xtra Time Web Desk: Former World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting feels it will be a battle between the Indian top order against the Australian fast bowling attack during the upcoming World Test Championships Final to be played at the Oval from June 7-11. The Aussie great was speaking at an official curtain raiser event for the WTC Final 2023 in New Delhi on Friday.
“I think it’ll be India’s top order against Australia’s fast bowling, it’s a bit of a mouth-watering thought going forward,” said Ponting during an interaction with presenter Mayanti Langer.
Ponting also added, “Generally, we think about the battles between India’s spinners and Australia’s batters. But will that be negated by the wicket at The Oval? Normally the wickets that I’ve played on The Oval have started as really good batting wickets, and actually have offered a little bit to the spinners as the game’s going on. That is what I’d like to see in this wicket – to have a really good contest on day four, day five, or maybe even day six, seeing how it’s going.”
Here is the video of Ricky Ponting’s chat show:
The former Australian captain Ricky Ponting expressed that Virat Kohli’s wicket would be highly valued by the Australian players.
“I caught up with Virat about a month ago when we played them in Bangalore,” said Ponting. “And I had a good chat to him about his batting and where he was at and his career. And he said to me then that he feels like he’s almost back to his absolute best,” said Ponting.
He also added, “You probably saw that last night, you know, he’s had a very good IPL and I’m sure he’ll be the prize wicket that all the Australians are looking are looking forward to.”
The Australians are leaving no stone unturned as far as the preparations for WTC Final and Ashes which follows next is concerned. Pat Cummins and the test players are already undergoing a camp in Gabba. Few players like Steve Smith , Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Harris are busy playing County Cricket.
According to Ponting, “There’s two ways to look at it – I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong. What the Australian players have done though, you know, with Steve Smith and (Marnus) Labuschange being in England there, getting used to the conditions the best they can – they’re giving themselves the best chance. Michael Nesser and Sean Abbott are also over there, bowling, making sure they’re ready in case there’s an injury to any of the Australian fast bowlers.
The ICC World Test Championship Final will be held at The Oval from June 7.