Ricky Ponting wants 'Disappointing' bowler James Anderson dropped from England XI for 3rd Ashes 2023 test

James Anderson has picked up only 3 wickets in 2 tests against Australia in the Ashes 2023.

England’s ‘Bazball’ got the beating twice in the ongoing Ashes series against Australia. Australia have defeated England in the first two tests at Edgbaston and at the Lord’s. England might be looking to make a few big changes in their playing eleven for the upcoming Headingley test starting from Thursday, 6th July. Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting has suggested a big omission from England's playing XI for the upcoming third test. Ricky Ponting has suggested to England team management that they should keep Josh Tongue in the eleven at the cost of legendary pace bowler James Anderson. 41-year-old James Anderson has been in poor rhythm in the first two Ashes tests. 

Ponting says Anderson looked 'disappointing'

James Anderson could only pick up 3 wickets in the last 4 innings he bowled in the Ashes. 2007 Ashes winner Ricky Ponting said, “He (James Anderson) looked like the most disappointing bowler for England so far. What you expect from James Anderson is when he’s got that new ball in his hand, he’s taking early wickets, he’s moving the ball and he’s not going for any runs. We have not seen that in the series so far”. Ponting believes that Anderson’s selection is still far from guaranteed. James Anderson himself admitted that he is not in his best rhythm in the Ashes and it is not because of his age. 

Ricky Ponting praised England’s newcomer Josh Tongue. He said, “From what I saw last week, I thought he (Josh Tongue) was the standard of their fast bowlers. Broad got the wickets in the second innings, but Tongue got the early breakthroughs”. Josh Tongue got David Warner and Steve Smith out twice in Lord’s Test and picked up 5 wickets in the second test of his career. Ponting added, “They were both (Smith and Warner’s dismissal) very similar dismissals from around the wicket with the ball coming back in. I think that is something that they need to consider as well”.