India vs Australia: Ricky Ponting predicts Prithvi Shaw’s flaw before Mitchell Starc knocks him over next ball for a duck

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting predicted Prithvi Shaw’s exact mode of dismissal a ball before he got out for a duck. The Indian opener was bowled on the second delivery during the historic Day/Night Test match against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday.

Ricky Ponting was in the commentary box for Seven Cricket when the play began with Mitchell Starc taking the new ball. While Shaw took the guard for India, the former cricketer talked about the young India opener’s batting flaw. Ponting explained how he tends to leave a gap between bat and pad while playing the in-coming deliveries.

“If he does have a chink in his armour it’s the ball which does come back into him,” Ponting said after Shaw defended Starc’s first ball.

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“He’s very comfortable playing the ball away from his body. He does get his head in line with the ball. But he doesn’t commit his front foot to the line of the ball and quite often leaves a big gap between bat and pad. And that’s where the Aussies will target,” Ponting said even as Starc started his run-up for the second ball.

Shaw’s first duck in Test cricket

The Indian team went with Prithvi Shaw over the in-form Shubman Gill as their second opener alongside Mayank Agarwal. Shaw’s current Test numbers are quite impressive as he scored 335 runs in four matches. However, he looked out-of-form during the recently-concluded edition of IPL and the two three-day practice games against the Australians. 

Ricky Ponting, Delhi Capitals head coach even dropped Shaw from the side due to his poor performances in the tournament. The Indian team management might go with Gill or KL Rahul in the next match at the MCG if Shaw gets out early in the second innings as well.

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