Ricky Ponting feels 'Bazball' left Australian players scratching their heads

Australia retained the Ashes series for the 4th consecutive time.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticized the Australian cricket team after the recent result in the Ashes 2023. Australia may have retained the Ashes series, but a loss in the final test at The Oval has dented their Ashes campaign. Ricky Ponting felt that England’s ‘BazBall’ approach had left Australians scratching their heads. Australia got the 2-0 lead after taming down England’s ‘BazBall’ approach, and then England bounced back nicely and went on to win two of the remaining three test matches. They both drew at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Ricky Ponting questions Australia’s approach

While talking to SEN Cricket, Ponting put up a question mark on Australia’s mindset and said, “The two contrasting styles of play were great to sit back and watch. There was a lot of talk about Bazball and how England would approach it, and would that style stand up against the quality of the Australian attack. It probably had some of the Australian players, coaches, and captain at different times scratching their heads as to how they were going to combat it.” Australia tamed the ‘Bazball’ approach nicely in the first two tests, but they somehow couldn’t carry the momentum due to England’s persistent approach.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also added that England’s win in the last test was slightly blessed with the ball changing on the final day at The Oval. Ponting said, “I think 2-2 results, albeit probably slightly blessed with a bit of controversy in that last test with the ball changed the way that it was, gifted England some conditions they probably shouldn’t have gotten.” I think the level of cricket played across the series and the 2-2 results were probably fair.”

Australia have retained the Ashes series for the last four times. While talking about the best bowling performers, Ricky Ponting also said that Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers, along with Mitchell Starc’s outstanding performance. Ponting said, “As the series went on, Cummins was probably the pick again. But Starc was outstanding. There were some questions about whether Pat could get through the six tests and keep the intensity up, but he kept going.” Australia will be touring South Africa next month for the ODI and T20I series.

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