Ricky Ponting, former Australian Captain slammed Pat Cummins for his mistake made in Team Selection for the ongoing fourth Ashes Test which is being played at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Right after announcing the playing XI with three seamers and two bowling all-rounders by the Australian Cricket Team, things are not going in the favor of their decision. Many experts including Ricky Ponting have criticised their decision to not play Todd Murphy could haunt the team.
Meanwhile, speaking to SKY Sports Cricket, Ricky Ponting explained why Pat Cummins could have picked the best possible XI for the fourth Ashes Test 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 further 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, the former England cricketer Mark Butcher, who was also present there, joined the discussion and brought his completely different opinion. He said that he couldn’t believe that the team dropped a specialist spinner in such a critical situation of the game 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 joined their hands and criticised Pat Cummins for his 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,” he further concluded.
