Ricky Ponting offers batting advice to Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne ahead of second test

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is ready to offer technical batting advice to help out batters Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.

The legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting has offered to help Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to rediscover their form ahead of the second Ashes Test. Australia defeated England by two wickets in the 1st Men's Ashes Test. The match witnessed several individual performances but Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne couldn't do much with the bat in the 1st match of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.

In an interview with ICC, Ponting said that Labuschagne has to go back to his basics to find success.

“I'll wait for them to come and ask me. It's not my place, I'm not one of the coaches, I'm just a past player that's sitting back and analysing what a lot of these guys are doing,” Ponting said.

He added that the 28-year-old is overcomplicating things and is ready to have a chat about his batting.

"I would like to catch up with him and have a chat about his batting because I think what I've seen over the last couple of weeks, as far as I'm concerned, I think he's overcomplicating things a little bit," he added.

'I would actually tell him to go and watch some footage'

Ricky Ponting said that Labuschagne must go back and watch his old footage, where he was at his best.

“I would actually tell him to go and watch some footage and watch some video of when he's actually played his best, and remember those things and go and do that all over again," he added.

Travis Head was another batter who failed to gather some runs in the 1st Ashes Test. Head, who was the hero in Australia's World Test Championship victory, had trouble facing short deliveries.

Ricky Ponting said that Head must come up with a plan to get through the England attack.

“I think he has to work at it in his own mind. What's the best way for him to combat that type of bowling? Is it going to be to take it on? Is he going to have success if he tries to hook and pull balls that are into his body? Does he find a way to be able to duck and weave and get out of the way a bit better and try and wear the bowlers down?”

"They (England) might bring Wood into the team"- Ricky Ponting

Ponting added that England might bring in Mark Wood to tackle Travis Head as Wood has a good short ball. He said that if Head could get through the initial overs, he will be good to go.

"Coming into Lord’s, it could be Mark Wood. They might bring Wood into the team, which offers something a bit different. He’s obviously a lot quicker and bowls a really good short ball. He (Head) has to be aware of it, and if there is only one bowler in the team that he thinks can do it, then find a way to get through that one spell."

“If they're running in and trying to bowl really fast, they can only do it for three or four overs. If you can get through that, then you're going to be fine.”

Australia defeated England by two wickets in the first Ashes Test. Now, the Ashes caravan will move to the Lord's for the second Test, which will begin on 28th June.