Ricky Ponting is UNHAPPY with Australia letting a good opportunity slip with a shaky start in 4th Ashes Test

Ricky Ponting expressed his disappointment with the Aussie batters for not utilizing the opportunity well in spite of the clear weather.

Ricky Ponting is UNHAPPY with Australia letting a good opportunity slip with a shaky start in 4th Ashes Test

Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins (Images via ESPNCricinfo)

Australia had a shaky start on Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test against England at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. Though they could put on 299 on the scoreboard, it came after losing eight wickets. And that is why, former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting expressed his disappointment with the Aussie batters for not utilizing the opportunity well in spite of the clear weather.

The top scorer was Mitchell Marsh who played a knock of 51 runs off 60 balls. Travis Head added 48 runs off 65 balls. Well, it’s worth noting that all these players tried to quickly score the runs. Marnus Labuschagne also slammed his half-century (51 off 115 balls) but Moeen Ali was able to stop him with an lbw.

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“I think Australia will be disappointed,” Ponting said on Sky Sport. “They have let a very good opportunity slip. It has been pretty good conditions and their top score is 51.”

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Steve Waugh slams Australia for a mistake

Ricky Ponting is UNHAPPY with Australia letting a good opportunity slip with a shaky start in the 4th Ashes Test
Todd Murphy, Pat Cummins (Image via ESPNCricinfo)

Australia chose to drop Todd Murphy from the playing XI, the only spinner in the team; and are playing the fourth Test with only pacers in their bowling department. The legendary ex-Test captain Steve Waugh thinks it was a mistake from skipper Pat Cummins to drop a frontline spinner and that too in Manchester where the ball turns a lot.

Murphy was added to the playing XI after the injury of Nathan Lyon but several cricket pundits criticised Cummins for not utilizing Murphy’s services in the Headingley Test where the visitors lost the match by three wickets.

After winning the toss, English skipper Ben Stokes chose to field. It was Chris Woakes who ran havoc on Day 1, dismissing four batters (David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey), while Stuart Broad gave his team the first breakthrough by dismissing opener Usman Khawaja. Australia has reached 299/8 and skipper Pat Cummins (1) and Mitchell Starc (23) will start Day 2.

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