Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) chief coach – Ricky Ponting admitted the fact that he is having the same understanding as veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has regarding the non-strikers, who tend to be far away from the crease before a bowler could send down a delivery.
Recently, Ponting did have a word of caution for Ashwin to not repeat it before reaching to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which eventually saw the latter clearing the air on a podcast while sitting alongside his coach to discuss it openly.
“He (Ashwin) made me get on a podcast with him when I first arrived here to have a good open chat about it. I think we’re both on the same page. He feels he did everything in the rules and laws of the game and he’s right,” Ponting told Cricket Australia regarding the mode of dismissal at the non-striker’s end.
Now, it becomes quite interesting to say that the former Australian skipper Ponting asserted he alongside Ashwin share the same views when it comes to the non-strikers who are backing up too far.
Ricky Ponting and Ravichandran Ashwin discuss ‘early advantage’:
The batting genius had found validation in Ashwin’s statement. The star off-spinner questioned his coach what if the game goes down the wire and non-striker takes an early advantage by charging down the ground.
“What if it’s the last ball of the IPL, what if I’m bowling and the batting teams needs two runs to win and the non-striker is charging halfway down the wicket? What do you expect me to do?,” Ashwin asked Ponting.
To which Ponting responded that he would expect a bowler to warn the non-striker – to stay well inside the crease.
“I would expect that he would hold on to the ball and not Mankad and tell the batsman to stay in his crease next time and see if he’s good enough to try and close the game out for us,” Ponting remarked.
It becomes a very important aspect to point out that Ashwin has been in focus after dismissing Jos Buttler during the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), last year.
The game was played between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Ashwin, who will now play for Delhi Capitals (DC) had eventually received massive criticism for ‘Mankading’ Buttler.
However, he was also supported by many who cited that it was within the laws of the game despite many addressing it as a dent to the ‘spirit of the game’.
Ricky Ponting says there’s no place for ‘cheating’:
The remarkable cricketer Ponting, who is imparting knowledge as a guide, maintained that batsmen who are trying to take charge at non-striker’s end – is something that needs to look at.
“It shouldn’t get to that stage anyway, batsmen shouldn’t be cheating. That’s what batsmen are doing, batsmen are actually cheating by trying to steal a yard or two here or there. It’s something that needs to be addressed,” Ponting said.
Furthermore, he believes opting for a run penalty would be an option to tackle this major issue for what he had shown disliking. He also stated that it should happen within laws of the game.
“I think if you bring in some sort of run penalty for the batsman if they’re deliberately leaving their crease and pinching ground that might be the way to go about it,” Ricky Ponting concluded.
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals will take on KXIP at the Dubai International Stadium on September 20.
