Twitter Reactions

‘Dinesh Karthik’s become an honorary Englishman…’- Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting respond playfully to Karthik’s dig at Ponting’s run-out moment in 2009 Ashes

The fifth Test match of the ongoing Ashes series has certainly panned out as the fans would have expected. The match will be entering the fifth day just like the previous four Test matches which also went to the wire. Australia and the rain owned the fifth Ashes Test’s fourth day. Opening pair David Warner and Usman Khawaja had put on a 135-run partnership before rain forced everyone to go back to the dressing room. The two teams were attempting to win the Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001.

Both extremely successful former Australia captains and commentators Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting praised the duo for how they went about neutralizing the threat offered by the England attack, which included a retiring Stuart Broad. But when given the chance, seasoned Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik decided to roast the pair by reminding them of what transpired during the 2009 Ashes series.

“The two Australian commentators here going gaga over how well Australia are going. Here is a moment though, that happened a few Ashes ago. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey had put on a partnership of 127 before this happened. What happened after that, I think it is best Ricky explains. They lost the Test and the Ashes post that,” said Karthik from the commentary box.

 

Replying to this statement from the Indian wicketkeeper, Taylor and Ponting replied back, “Gee have a bit of that, there you go. Dinesh Karthik’s become an honorary Englishman overnight, hasn’t he?” said Taylor. “Just making sure he has a contract next year, isn’t he? Locking himself in the Sky box. Good work DK,” Ponting then said.

Ricky Ponting’s run-out in Ashes 2009

Karthik was referring to the final Ashes Test in the 2009 season. Going into the last Test, the series was tied at 1-1. Jonathan Trott’s century and a five-wicket haul from Australia’s first innings enabled England set a massive mark of 546 for Australia to pursue.

Ponting and Hussey put the hosts on the back foot with a partnership of 127 off 239 balls, despite the fact that it was an impossible chase. With a cannon throw from mid-on, Andrew Flintoff then turned the tide of the match and ran Ponting out at 66. While Hussey held onto his undefeated status at 121, Australia collapsed for 348, losing the Test by 197 runs and the series 2-1.

The series is well poised at the moment if England wins the fifth Test match then the series will be drawn and if Australia wins then they will be winning the Ashes series for the first time since 2001 on English soil. Either way, one thing which is definite is that they will be retaining the Ashes anyway.