Ricky Ponting‘s conviction about Australia rising victorious within the coming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) towards India has strengthened, as the previous Australia skipper caught to his earlier prediction in an interview with the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC).
In August this 12 months, Ponting had predicted Australia to win the BGT 3-1, and he’s now much more satisfied about it after the possibilities of veteran pacer Mohammad Shami making a comeback throughout the collection just about ended.
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Shami has reportedly picked up a facet pressure, which is able to additional delay his return following an ankle surgical procedure and rehab; and Ponting feels taking 20 wickets in a Take a look at in Australia shall be powerful for India, regardless of having vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah as their bowling spearhead.
“Shami simply leaves such a giant gap in that bowling group,” Ponting informed the ICC web site. “Again then (in August) there was nonetheless some conjecture whether or not Shami can be match or not. Taking 20 wickets in a Take a look at match for India goes to be the largest problem. I feel they will bat effectively sufficient out right here with the present group of batters that they have.”
Compounding India’s issues could possibly be their insecurity after a historic 0-3 whitewash at house by New Zealand. However Ponting says the guests may win one of many 5 Assessments.
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“I feel India will win a Take a look at match someplace by way of the 5 Take a look at matches,” Ponting predicted.
“However I nonetheless assume now, Australia most likely look a bit extra settled, a bit extra skilled and we all know that they are a very onerous workforce to beat at house. So I will follow the 3-1 (prediction).”
Ponting, who shall be teaching Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 after his lengthy stint with the Delhi Capitals, was additionally requested who in line with him may lead the run-scoring charts within the collection.
He talked about a few names — one from every workforce.
“Main run scorer, I will go (with) Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant,” mentioned Ponting.
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Pant was the very best Indian batsman on present in an in any other case dismal present in three Assessments towards New Zealand, which additionally noticed the hosts getting bowled out for simply 46 within the first innings of the Bengaluru Take a look at. It’s India’s lowest complete in a Take a look at innings at house.
The left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman ended on high of the run-scorers’ checklist within the collection, aggregating 261 runs in six innings at a mean of 43.50, together with three half-centuries and a highest of 99.
Earlier than that, Pant scored 161 runs in two Assessments towards Bangladesh at a mean of 53.66, marking his return to red-ball internationals with a century.
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“With Rishabh again within the facet and possibly coming into bat within the center order when the ball’s most likely misplaced a little bit of its shine and a little bit of its hardness and the shape that he is in, I will go for him as one of many main run-scorers as effectively,” mentioned Pointing.
On Smith, he mentioned: “I feel Smith, the truth that he is moved again down from opener to No. 4 most likely makes it really feel like he is received extra of a degree to show…that perhaps he should not have gone as much as open within the first place and that No. 4 is his spot and the place he ought to have most likely been the entire time.”
The primary Take a look at of the collection begins in Perth on November 22.
