Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting hit out Joe Root for his criticism over England‘s bowling plans. After thrashing defeat at Adelaide on Monday, Joe Root opined that their bowlers should have braver to bowl fuller lengths. Ponting responded (to the statement) that it’s the captain’s job to ask their bowlers to change their lengths.
“I nearly fell off my seat when I heard that. Whose job is it then to make them change? Why are you captain then?” Ricky Ponting spoke to the cricket.com.au website.
Notable that Joe Root as a captain had a tough time in Australia as the Yorkshire batter captained 7 Tests in Australia and England lost 6 of them, one match ended in a draw. To make things worse, in none of those 7 tests, England could pick 20 Australian wickets.
The only time England pitched the ball up was when Ben Stokes took over the captaincy
“If you can’t influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field? Joe Root can come back and say whatever he likes but if you’re captain, you’ve got to be able to sense when your bowlers aren’t bowling where you want them to. That’s what captaincy is all about,” said Ricky Ponting.
Former Australian captain also pointed out that England bowled better when vice-captain Ben Stokes took over the leadership in absence of Joe Root who left the field due to an injury.
“The interesting thing for me is the only time they bowled full in the game was when Joe Root wasn’t on the ground. The start of day four when they had a meeting on the ground before play started, Stokes took over the captaincy, and that was the only time in the game they pitched the ball up.” Ponting stated.
The third Test of this Ashes series will start on Boxing Day (December 26) at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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