Cricket

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has expressed concerns over the Indian batting lineup's vulnerability against quality spin bowling, citing their recent 3-0 series defeat to New Zealand. Ponting believes that the skill level of Indian batters in facing spin has declined compared to previous generations.India's dismal performance against New Zealand's spinners, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips, highlighted their weakness in this area. Ponting attributes this to several factors, including the changing nature of Indian pitches, the rise of fast bowlers in India, and the influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL)."It seems as though the skill of the modern Indian batsmen of playing spin is probably not what it used to be," Ponting said on The ICC Review show. "Maybe because they're playing on different wickets in India that are probably for the fast bowlers a bit more, maybe because there are more high-quality fast bowlers in India now that they're not playing as much spin bowling as they did."Ponting also praised New Zealand for their remarkable achievement, despite the absence of their star batter Kane Williamson. "That's a huge result. One that I wasn't expecting, to be honest, more so, when you look at it with Kane Williamson not being there," he said.While India's talismanic batter Virat Kohli has been struggling for form in Test cricket, Ponting remains confident in his ability to bounce back in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "There's no doubt, he's a great of the game. He loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record (in Australia) is very good. If there's a time for him to turn it around, it'd be this series," Ponting said.India needs to win at least four games in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship final. Ponting believes that the series will be a crucial test for India's batting lineup and their ability to handle quality spin bowling.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, is currently enjoying a well-deserved vacation in Phuket, Thailand, with his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva. The former India captain, who turned 43 in July, is widely regarded as one of the most successful skippers in the history of the game. Under his leadership, India triumphed in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni remains an active player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was recently retained by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the mega auctions, highlighting his enduring value to the franchise.Dhoni's daughter, Ziva, has shared some heartwarming and picturesque moments from their family's trip to Phuket on her Instagram account. In one of the photos, Dhoni is seen sporting a black vest and sunglasses, posing in the sea with a stunning sunset as the backdrop.Dhoni's retention by CSK as an uncapped player for Rs 4 crore has been met with widespread approval. The five-time champions also retained their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, and Shivam Dube.Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has expressed his admiration for Dhoni's remarkable career and his continued impact on CSK. "Two seasons ago he probably had his worst season, but then last year again, he bounced back into really impacting some games like the MS Dhoni of old," Ponting said.Ponting believes that Dhoni's presence in the CSK team is invaluable, even if he may not play every game. "Any team that he's in, whether he's captain or not, he's always going to be a mentor and a leader around that group, whether he's playing, whether he's sitting on the sidelines, that's just who he is...he's crucial to Chennai, for that leadership that he brings on and off the field," Ponting stated.Despite recent injuries, Dhoni's ability to evolve and remain impactful has been a hallmark of his illustrious career. He continues to be a source of inspiration for young cricketers and a respected figure in the cricketing world.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has advised Pakistan's Babar Azam to emulate Virat Kohli's approach to regain his lost form. Babar has been struggling for runs in recent Tests, prompting his omission from the last two matches against England.Ponting believes that Babar should consider taking a break from cricket to recharge, similar to what Kohli did earlier this year. Kohli's break proved beneficial, as he returned to form with a match-winning knock in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final."The biggest challenge is how they get Babar back into their side. They've got to find a way to get Babar back into form and back into their (Test) team," Ponting said in the ICC Review.Ponting suggested that Babar may be trying too hard and needs to step away from the game to clear his mind. "Maybe Babar needs to get away for a while and stop trying too hard. Lock the kit bag away for a while, and think about something else and then hopefully come back recharged," he said.Babar's Test record stands at 3,997 runs in 55 matches at an average of 43.92. However, he has not scored a half-century in his last 18 innings, dating back to late 2022.Pakistan's recent Test series victory over England, their first under Shan Masood's captaincy, has raised questions about Babar's future in the team. Ponting believes that Babar remains a world-class player but needs to find a way to rediscover his form."We know at his best he's as good as anyone going around. Hopefully, we get to see that in the back half of his career again," Ponting said.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to grant newly-appointed white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan a "decent run" to prove his leadership credentials. Rizwan took over the captaincy after Babar Azam stepped down following Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.Ponting expressed concern over Pakistan's frequent leadership changes, stating that it creates instability. He believes that Rizwan's performance during the ongoing tour of Australia will provide valuable insights into his leadership abilities."He's the sort of player that I love watching. Aggressive player that takes the game on, and wears his heart on his sleeve a little bit," Ponting said of Rizwan. "I reckon you can see he gets quite emotional out on the field, out on the ground as well, which I think is a good thing. It tends to show that you really care about what you're doing and what your team's trying to achieve."Ponting emphasized the importance of giving Rizwan a fair chance to demonstrate his leadership skills. "The proof will be in the pudding. I mean, we won't know (until they) give him a decent run at it," he said. "So I think in a few months time, or maybe in a few weeks time, even here in Australia with the one-dayers, the T20Is coming up, we might have a better idea in three or four weeks time."Pakistan's second ODI against Australia will be played in Adelaide on Friday, followed by the series finale in Perth on Sunday. The two teams will then face off in a three-match T20I series starting on November 14 in Brisbane.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged Pakistan's Babar Azam to emulate Virat Kohli's strategy to regain his lost form. Babar, who was rested for the final two Tests against England due to poor form, has struggled to find his rhythm in recent times.Ponting believes that Babar should consider taking a break from cricket, similar to what Kohli did in 2022. Kohli's sabbatical helped him rediscover his form and return to his best."The biggest challenge is how they get Babar back into their side. They've got to find a way to get Babar back into form and back into their (Test) team," Ponting said in the ICC Review."You know, when you look at (Babar's) numbers, it's been a bit like the stuff that we were talking about with Virat Kohli earlier on. Sometimes - and I think Virat was on record saying this - that little bit of a break that he had, he took himself away from the game for a while to freshen up and sort out some things that he needed to sort out."Ponting added that Babar may need to "get away for a while and stop trying too hard.""Lock the kit bag away for a while, and think about something else and then hopefully come back recharged, because we know at his best he's as good as anyone going around. Hopefully, we get to see that in the back half of his career again," Ponting said.Babar has amassed 3,997 runs at an average of 43.92 in 55 Test matches. However, he has not scored a Test half-century in 18 innings since late 2022.Pakistan won the Test series against England 2-1 under the leadership of Shan Masood. Babar's return to form will be crucial for Pakistan's success in upcoming Test matches.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has predicted a 3-1 triumph for the Baggy Greens. Ponting's prediction stems from India's recent series defeat to New Zealand and the absence of key pacer Mohammed Shami due to injury.Ponting believes that Shami's absence will make it challenging for India to claim the 20 wickets required to win a Test match in Australia. "Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge," Ponting said. "I think they'll bat well enough out here with the current group of batters that they've got."Despite acknowledging that India may sneak in a win at some point in the five-match series, Ponting remains confident in his overall prediction. "I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches," he said. "But I still think now, Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home."Regarding the potential top-scorer in the series, Ponting identified Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant as the frontrunners. He believes that Smith's move back to No.4 in the batting order increases his chances of success, while Pant's form and ability to bat in the middle order make him a formidable contender.Among the bowlers, Ponting backed Josh Hazlewood to top the wickets chart. He cited Hazlewood's current form and consistency as the reasons for his prediction. "I think Hazlewood out of the Australian quicks, is right at the moment, is probably at the peak of his powers more than the other guys," Ponting said.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is a crucial ICC World Test Championship series that could determine the potential finalists of the WTC cycle. With Australia and India currently at the top of the table, the outcome of this series will have a significant impact on the race to the final.

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, remains steadfast in his belief that Australia will emerge victorious in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India. In an interview with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ponting reiterated his earlier prediction of a 3-1 series win for Australia, citing the absence of veteran Indian pacer Mohammad Shami as a significant factor.Shami's side strain injury has cast doubt on his availability for the series, and Ponting believes that his absence will make it challenging for India to take 20 wickets in a Test match in Australia. "Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group," Ponting told the ICC website. "Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge."Compounding India's concerns is their recent 0-3 whitewash at home by New Zealand. However, Ponting acknowledges that the visitors have the potential to win one of the five Tests. "I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches," he predicted.Despite India's struggles, Ponting believes that Australia is the more settled and experienced team, making them difficult to beat at home. "Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home," he said.Ponting also identified Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant as potential leading run-scorers in the series. "Leading run scorer, I'm going to go (with) Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant," he said.Pant has been in impressive form, scoring 261 runs in six innings against New Zealand, while Smith has moved back down to his preferred position at No. 4 in the batting order. "I think Smith, the fact that he's moved back down from opener to No. 4 probably makes it feel like he's got more of a point to prove," Ponting said.The first Test of the BGT series begins in Perth on November 22, and Ponting's predictions will be put to the test as Australia and India battle for supremacy in one of the most intense rivalries in cricket.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions, Punjab Kings have announced the retention of batters Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh for the upcoming season.Prabhsimran, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has been with Punjab since 2019 and has amassed 756 runs in 34 games, averaging 22.24 with a strike rate of 146.23. Last season, he played some impressive innings, showcasing his potential.Shashank Singh emerged as a key player for Punjab last season, scoring 354 runs in 14 games at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 164.65. His ability to bat at multiple positions in the order and his exceptional fielding skills make him a valuable asset to the team.Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon expressed the franchise's goal of winning the IPL trophy this season. He praised newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting, describing him as one of the sharpest minds in cricket."This auction will be critical as we go there with maximum purse. We will build on what we have at the moment. It will be an interesting auction, especially for us, as we also have a new coach in Ricky Ponting. He is one of the sharpest minds in cricket. You will see us develop an extraordinary team. Our goal is to go for silverware this year - nothing short of that," Menon said.Menon emphasized the franchise's faith in Prabhsimran Singh, stating that they have witnessed his development over the past six years. He believes Prabhsimran is on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues.Regarding Shashank Singh, Menon highlighted his versatility and passion, which were key factors in his retention. He also praised Shashank's gun fielding abilities.Earlier this year, Punjab Kings appointed Ricky Ponting as their head coach. Menon hinted that Ponting's fresh ideas and experience will be instrumental in the upcoming auctions.

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on MS Dhoni, the former Indian captain who continues to inspire with his performances for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Ponting, speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, lauded Dhoni's enduring legacy in the sport. He highlighted Dhoni's ability to bounce back from a difficult season two years ago and regain his impact on the game."I think it will be exactly the same now...they might not get him through the whole season. They might think about leaving him out for a game and resting him up here and there to make sure that they're getting the best out of him," Ponting said.As a two-time World Cup-winning captain himself, Ponting understands the challenges of balancing playing and mentoring roles. He believes Dhoni's experience and leadership are invaluable, even when he's not captaining or playing."Any team that he's in, whether he's captain or not, he's always going to be a mentor and a leader around that group, whether he's playing, whether he's sitting on the sidelines, that's just who he is...he's crucial to Chennai, for that leadership that he brings on and off the field," Ponting said.Despite recent injuries, Ponting believes Dhoni still brings an irreplaceable presence to the CSK team. He highlighted Dhoni's ability to evolve and remain impactful, a trait shared by many cricket legends."The best players are the ones that are able to maintain such a high level for a long time...for 10, 12, 14-year careers," he said on Dhoni's longevity.Ponting also acknowledged that while Dhoni's role has shifted over time, with him now batting later in the innings, he continues to make significant contributions to the team."He's actually batting the last 20 balls of an innings now but still showing that you can make a big impact on the game by doing that," Ponting said.