Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting supports Australia’s top three for the first Ashes Test later this year. He also advised young batter Sam Konstas, who has been debated in Australian cricket.
Australia won a 3-0 series over the West Indies, but its hitters struggled on conditions that favoured bowlers. Ponting backed Konstas, who scored a debut half-century against Jasprit Bumrah and India’s bowling attack in last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Since his auspicious start, the kid has struggled to bat consistently.
Ponting told Sanjana Ganesan in The ICC Review that the hitters being discussed in the last couple of weeks are (Sam) Konstas and (Usman) Khawaja, and Cameron Green’s prospects as a long-term No.3 three.
“(Green’s) second innings in the West Indies (last Test) may have settled that. He may have quiet some doubters by batting for as long as he did under difficult conditions. With where they are, I think the Ashes line-up will stay the same. I think they’ll start with that, and you hope they can get it done right away, he said.
Ponting recognised that top-order slots are uncertain. Only an Australia A series against Sri Lanka and four Sheffield Shield rounds remain before the important Ashes series, so few can break into the squad.
Nathan McSweeney, who started the Australian summer against India last year, scored in one of the Sri Lanka A games. Matt Renshaw also scored many white ball runs in those games. I doubt anyone other than the names we’ve heard in recent years will be mentioned again. Ponting said McSweeney should be revisited soon.
“If they (Australia) get two or three Test matches into the Ashes and things aren’t going well, the longer you go in a series, the harder it is to change, and it’s not like they’re jumping up and down, batsmen left, right, and centre making runs all over the place,” he
Ponting also considered Jason Sangha for the Australian team. He stressed that young players have few chances to shine with few matches coming.
“The Sheffield Shield season will be interesting for some of those names, and I’ll add Jason Sangha, a talented Australian batsman. I think he’ll be mentioned at some point, but there aren’t many games or chances to get in front of selectors, Ponting said.
Konstas faced stronger batting pitches: Ponting
Konstas has averaged 16.30 in his first 10 Test innings, but Ponting believes he has had a harder start than most.
“I read some really interesting quotes or a story by (Australian journalist) Robert Craddock about Sam Konstas and how the Australians tried to protect him from a difficult tour of Sri Lanka. They abandoned him in hopes of rescuing him in the Caribbean, where things were easier. The reverse has happened. Ponting claimed it’s been the opposite.
As it turned out, Sri Lanka had a mediocre attack and favourable batting wickets. Everyone has struggled to bat on our Caribbean wickets. Last time, the West Indies were knocked out for 27. This isn’t good bowling. That depends on the surface, ball, and other factors, he said.
Konstas’ batting technique is poor early on: Ponting
Ponting has noticed technical improvements in Konstas’ game development that may hinder short-term success but benefit the long term.
“Sam’s always going to have, like every batter trying to find their way at international level, people sit back and try to pick holes in your technique,” Ponting said.
“He’s always been talked about having an issue with (the ball) coming back in, particularly on the front foot, and we saw a couple of lbws and chop-ons in the Caribbean, but we also saw him try to correct that and stay more leg-side of the ball. the’s when the outside edge of the bat came into play and he nicked a couple, like in the second innings of the first Test match, he said.
Ponting advises Konstas to wait.
Ponting said he won’t be too hard on Konstas and asked the Australian squad to help him. He urged the team to aid him with his batting troubles. Ponting recalled his early struggles, debuting in Test cricket at 20 and scoring only one century in his first two years.
“Every batter in that series worked hard, so I won’t judge Sam too harshly. Ponting stated they should stick with him and help him overcome his shortcomings.
“If we get him back onto flatter wickets at the start of the Australian summer and some Sheffield Shield matches under his belt, he may be able to gain confidence and runs. He concluded, “I’ll support him.” ‘They have to stick with him’—Ponting on WI-AUS 2025 Early problems for Konstas
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