Ricky Ponting predicts the leading wicket taker and run scorer in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
The legendary Ricky Ponting certainly knows a boatload when it comes to analysing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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Ricky Ponting, Pat Cummins and Rohit Sharma (Via X)
Former Australian World Cup-winning captain and current Punjab Kings Head Coach, Ricky Ponting, predicted the highest wicket-taker of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He feels that Josh Hazlewood will be the leading wicket-taker at the end of the series.
By picking Hazlewood, Ponting ignored the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc and Australian captain Pat Cummins. The surfaces in the Test series will definitely suit the pacers more than the spinners and Hazlewood has the knack of bowling a tight line and length. He gives nothing away to the batters, sticks to the good length spot and derives movement from that spot. This makes it increasingly difficult for the batters to negotiate him on any surface, especially on the Australian wickets.
Ricky Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review
I think Hazlewood, out of the Australian quicks, is right at the moment and is probably at the peak of his powers more than the other guys. So I’ll go with him for the leading wicket-taker.
Hazlewood has been the Australian bowler with the most wickets taken in the current WTC 2023-25 cycle. He has scalped 51 wickets so far and the wicket tally will just go higher in the upcoming five-match Test series against India.
Ricky Ponting picks Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant as the leading run scorer in the Test series
Ponting also predicted the great Aussie batter Steve Smith or the explosive Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, to emerge as the leading run scorer in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After David Warner retired from Test cricket, Smith took up the challenge to open the innings. He had been a legendary run scorer at number four for Australia but could not replicate the same thing while opening the innings.
So, Smith is set to be back at his usual position at number four against India. Ponting feels that the talismanic Aussie batter will find his old mojo back given that he will be batting in his normal position and also enjoys scoring runs for fun against India.
On the other hand, Pant has been in terrific form since his comeback to Test cricket after injury. He has been India’s match-winner in Test cricket right from the time he made his Test debut and has scored runs consistently in all parts of the world.
He has Test centuries in every SENA country and played an integral part in the last Test series win on the tour of Australia. Pant was the hero of the historic win at the Gabba last time around and Ponting feels more of the same from the Indian wicketkeeper-batter in the upcoming series.
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Rohit Sarkar
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