Image: Ricky Ponting urges Australia to adopt aggressive tactics similar to Virat Kohli's / © News24Online
With the second match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaching, Ricky Ponting has backed Australia’s current squad to recover from their crushing 295-run defeat to India in the Perth Test. The former captain advised sticking with experienced players, despite recent struggles, and urged them to adopt a more aggressive mindset.
Marnus Labuschagne, who managed just two and three runs in his two innings, has been under scrutiny, but Ponting believes he and others like Steve Smith can regain form by focusing on scoring rather than fearing dismissals. Citing Virat Kohli’s century after a poor start as an example, Ponting stressed the importance of intent and mental resilience. He said:
I’d be sticking with the same side. Marnus looked the most tentative out of all the batters in Perth. Yes, it was high-quality bowling on a difficult wicket, but he needs to find a way to turn it around.
He also highlighted Jasprit Bumrah’s dominance with a five-wicket haul in the first innings and the challenge posed by India’s quality bowling. Ponting congratulated Beau Webster on his call-up but backed Mitch Marsh to retain his spot for the Adelaide Test if fit, emphasizing the need for a balanced and experienced side.