Cricket News

‘Potentially both Labuschagne and Smith could overtake Root’ – Ricky Ponting on Joe Root’s No.1 position being on knife’s edge

On the latest ICC review show, Australian great Ricky Ponting stated that Steve Smith is the best batsman to overtake Joe Root, who is in the blazing form right now. Ricky Ponting […]

Jul 29, 2022 6:21 pm

On the latest ICC review show, Australian great Ricky Ponting stated that Steve Smith is the best batsman to overtake Joe Root, who is in the blazing form right now. Ricky Ponting shed light on Steve Smith’s recent form and shared his thoughts on the World Championship race which has heated up.

Ponting has opined that there has not been any stark difference between Smith’s current technique and what he was doing earlier. He stated that opposition sides are using good analytics to figure out ways to get Smith out which has led to a drop in the run flow. The former Australia captain only recently broke an 18-month drought without a century when he reached triple figures during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

“The best way to describe it is, it (Smith’s form) has been indifferent,” Ponting told Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review. I have watched him quite closely, and I don’t think there is anything technically there that has changed too much.”

“Opposition teams maybe have finally started to work out the way they can slow him down from scoring quickly or have found some ways to attack him and get him out. But knowing Steve and how well he prepares himself and how deeply he thinks about his game, I don’t think it’s going to be too long before you see him back there scoring heavily again.”

“Whether it’s Smith or Labuschagne or even Virat, when he bounces back to his career-best form, any one of those guys – and Babar Azam is another one – they can overtake Root in the next few months.” Ricky Ponting stated.

Ricky Ponting further talked about World Test Championship, stating that the next India-Australia series will be vital in deciding who makes it into the final race in the World Test Championship.

“I think Australia’s chances really hinge on the upcoming Indian tour, to be honest and India’s chances are a little bit the same,” Ponting noted.

“It is always a much-anticipated series – Australia and India, whether it be in Australia or in India – it’s much hyped up and talked about, the rivalry between the two countries is just growing year on year. Ricky Ponting stated