Ricky Ponting Archives

Ponting wants Babar at his best to take Pakistan deep in T20 World Cup

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged Babar Azam to deliver his best performance to take Pakistan forward in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Ponting pondered on the question regarding Babar’s performance during the latest episode of the ICC Review with host Sanjana Ganesan.

“If you’re 15 off 18 balls, you’re not just putting pressure on yourself, you’re putting pressure on the guy at the other end,” Ponting said on Babar’s knock in the opening match of the World Cup.

“That batter then knows he has to take on the responsibility of boundary scoring. Babar needs to get going early. He needs boundaries in his first few balls, otherwise the momentum of the game shifts every time he comes in.”

He mentioned the batter’s ability to hit the long ball, stressing his batting number if Pakistan wants to go deeper in the tournament.

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“To me, it looks like he’s lost a bit of his power and ball-striking ability,” the 51-year-old said.

“I defended him at the start of the tournament because big players with experience are crucial in big events. But Pakistan need the best version of Babar Azam if they want to go deep in this competition.”

“I would seriously think about batting him at No.3,” Ponting suggested.

The legendary batter suggested that Babar Azam should spend sometime int he Powerplay to capitalize on the conditions.

“If he can spend some time in the Powerplay with only two fielders out, it might help him. If he has lost a bit of power, then everything needs to be in his favour. The batters coming after him have plenty of power and can take advantage of the middle overs,” he conclcuded.

READ: T20 World Cup: Muzarabani stars as Zimbabwe ease past Oman

Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting’s record in fifth Ashes Test

SYDNEY: Joe Root added another landmark to his illustrious career on Monday, drawing level with Australia great Ricky Ponting on the all-time list of men’s Test centuries during the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

The former England captain brought up his 41st Test hundred with a composed knock that stood out in an otherwise challenging innings for the tourists, who entered the match trailing 3-1 in the five-Test contest.

Resuming on 72 on the second day after rain curtailed play on the opening day, Root batted with characteristic control despite increased intensity from the Australian bowlers and a surface that offered variable bounce.

He reached the three-figure mark with a push for two off Michael Neser, bringing up his 41st Test century in his 163rd Test.

At 35, Root now shares third place on the all-time Test century list with Ponting, with only South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) and India legend Sachin Tendulkar (51) ahead of him.

While wickets continued to tumble at the other end, with Harry Brook (84), Ben Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) all departing, Joe Root remained unflustered.

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He went to lunch unbeaten on 138 before extending his innings further in the middle session, eventually passing the 150 mark.

Root’s resistance finally ended on 160 when Michael Neser produced an athletic caught-and-bowled effort to remove the England mainstay.

Notably, it marked Root’s second century of the tour, having failed to register a hundred in his previous 14 Test appearances in Australia before this Ashes series.

England were eventually dismissed for 384, with last man Josh Tongue falling in the same over as Root.

For Australia, Neser led the bowling effort with four wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland chipped in with two apiece.

READ: Australian great Martyn out of coma in ‘miracle’ recovery

Ricky Ponting names his Australia Playing XI for Ashes opener

Former Australia captain and ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has revealed his ideal playing XI for the opening Ashes Test against England, offering a glimpse of how he would navigate a team riddled with injuries.

Speaking on The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, Ponting backed Jake Weatherald for a Test debut at the top of the order and suggested Brendan Doggett as a key reinforcement to Australia’s depleted pace attack.

The visitors face a major blow with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ruled out of the Perth Test, while back-up pacer Sean Abbott is also unavailable.

Ponting’s XI reflects a reshuffled bowling unit and fresh batting options to mitigate the impact of these absences.

Ponting’s proposed lineup features Jake Weatherald and Usman Khawaja as openers, Marnus Labuschagne at three, Steve Smith at four, Travis Head at five, Cameron Green at six, Alex Carey at seven, followed by Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Brendan Doggett, and Nathan Lyon.

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He praised Weatherald’s recent domestic form, stating: “He’s done absolutely everything asked of him over the last month, scoring runs consistently and making a strong case for that No.3 spot.”

Ponting also highlighted Cameron Green’s all-round capabilities, noting that under normal circumstances, he could comfortably bowl eight to twelve overs per innings.

The former captain acknowledged the shifting selection landscape caused by Hazlewood’s hamstring injury, saying: “If you had asked me a week ago, my views might have been different. Now, with Doggett and Neser added, options have expanded.”

He also suggested Beau Webster could be considered to bolster all-around depth after an impressive Sheffield Shield showing for Tasmania.

READ: Babar Azam surpasses Shahid Afridi’s unwanted record in T20I cricket

Ricky Ponting clears the air on viral India-Pakistan no-handshake comment

Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has dismissed a viral social media post that falsely attributed remarks to him regarding the handshake controversy during the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025.

India chased down Pakistan’s 128-run target at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav sealing the win in the 16th over.

The post-match proceedings, however, took a controversial turn as Yadav and Shivam Dube bypassed the customary handshake, opting for fist bumps before walking off, leaving Pakistan players waiting.

In the aftermath, a fabricated statement began circulating online, claiming that Ponting had criticised India’s behaviour while praising Pakistan as “true champions of the gentleman’s game.”

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“This match will be remembered forever, India the big loser. Pakistan’s gesture to shake hands despite defeat has immortalised them as true champions of the gentleman’s game, while India remains the perpetual sore loser,” the rumoured comment.

However, Ricky Ponting swiftly denied ever making such comments. Taking to social media platform X, the 50-year-old clarified:

“I am aware of certain comments being attributed to me on social media. Please know that I categorically did not make those statements and indeed have made no public comment about the Asia Cup at all.”

READ: ICC rejects PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft: report

Ricky Ponting backs Shubman Gill’s aggression amid Lord’s spat

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has thrown his weight behind Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill following his on-field altercation with England’s openers during the third Test at Lord’s.

England edged out India by 22 runs in a gripping contest to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

But it was Gill’s animated exchange with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett towards the end of Day 3 that dominated headlines.

With six minutes left in the day and both teams tied at 387 in the first innings, Gill was keen to sneak in two overs.

However, the English openers were in no hurry to face the new ball, sparking a heated argument between the Indian skipper and the opening batters.

Speaking on The ICC Review, Ricky Ponting admitted he was surprised by Gill’s visible aggression.

“That was a little out of character from what I’ve known from Shubman in the past,” Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan.

“I am sure everyone who was there watching it, and I know you would know him quite well, that’s not what he’s generally like.”

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However, Ponting said the incident reflected a young captain stepping up and setting the tone for how he wants his side to play.

“That’s the captain standing up for his team,” he said.

“That’s a captain really wanting to show that it’s his team now and this is the way that we’re going to play the game, and also, I guess, wanting to give a little bit back.”

Drawing a comparison with India’s former leaders, Ricky Ponting said Gill’s approach seemed more in line with Virat Kohli’s intensity than Rohit Sharma’s calm leadership style.

“I think that’s him starting to put his stamp on his team. And a lot like Virat [Kohli] did, in similar ways,” he further stated.

“Rohit [Sharma] probably was never as outwardly aggressive, I guess, especially to opposition players.

“I know he (Rohit) would quite often get aggressive with his teammates and try to bring the best out of them that way. But I love watching Shubman [Gill] stand up for what he thought was right in the game last week.”

India now trails 2-1 in the series against England as they head into the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, starting on July 23.

READ: Former Australia wicket-keeper reacts to India-Pakistan WCL match cancellation

Mitchell Owen joins David Warner, Ricky Ponting in elite list

KINGSTON: Australia all-rounder Mitchell Owen finds himself in elite company with Ricky Ponting and David Warner following his outstanding debut performance in the first T20I against the West Indies here on Sunday.

Owen, playing his maiden international match, smashed a quickfire 50 off just 27 deliveries and picked up a wicket with the ball to script a memorable debut.

Chasing a competitive 190, Australia were in trouble at 78/4 when Owen joined Cameron Green in the middle. The duo added a crucial 80-run stand for the fifth wicket, with Green hammering 51 off 26 balls.

Owen’s aggressive strokeplay helped Australia wrest back control before he was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph soon after reaching his half-century.

Despite his departure in the 17th over, the visitors chased down the target with seven balls to spare, sealing a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

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With his half-century, Mitchell Owen became only the third Australian to score a T20I fifty on debut, joining David Warner, who made 89 against South Africa in 2009, and Ricky Ponting, who struck an unbeaten 98 against New Zealand in 2005.

Speaking after the match, Owen said he stuck to his natural game despite being slotted into an unfamiliar No. 6 role.

“I honestly tried not to look at the field too much and just sort of react to each ball, which I think held me in good stead,” he said.

“It’s obviously a little bit different [batting at No. 6], but my game plan wasn’t too different from opening.

“We had to strike at 9s or 10s when I came out, so I stayed positive. If I took my time trying to settle in, I’d only dig myself a hole. So I just tried to go after them from ball one.”

READ: Debutant Mitchell Owen stars as Australia defeat West Indies in T20I opener

Ricky Ponting backs THIS batter to open alongside Usman Khawaja in Ashes

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has thrown his weight behind 19-year-old Sam Konstas to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja in the upcoming Ashes series later this year.

Speaking to ICC Digital, Ponting shared his thoughts on Australia’s top-order options for both the Ashes and the beginning of their new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, urging selectors to persist with Konstas despite his recent struggles.

“The batters that they’re talking about in the last couple of weeks in particular have been Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja, and then there was some talk about Cameron Green, whether he’s a long-term number three or not,” Ponting said.

Ponting also hinted that Green’s gritty second-innings knock in the Caribbean may have cemented his place at No. 3.

“Green’s second innings in the West Indies might have put that to bed. As tough as the conditions were, the way he batted might have silenced a few of those critics,” he added.

Sam Konstas, meanwhile, endured a nightmare tour of the West Indies, managing just 50 runs across six innings.

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However, Ricky Ponting believes his form shouldn’t be judged in isolation, pointing to the extremely challenging conditions during that series.

“I read a really interesting piece by Robert Craddock about how they tried to protect Sam from the Sri Lanka tour, thinking the Caribbean would be easier,” he added.

“But it turned out the pitches in Sri Lanka were better for batting and the West Indies surfaces were really tough.”

Despite the lean run, Ponting urged Konstas to block out the noise and trust the process.

“If I were him, I’d be sticking to one or two trusted voices and ignoring the rest. It’s hard in today’s world with media and social platforms, but keeping your preparation and mindset clear is essential,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Sam Konstas burst onto the scene last year with a fearless 60 off 65 balls on debut against India in the Boxing Day Test, going after Jasprit Bumrah with authority.

READ: West Indies unwilling to scrap ODIs for T20Is against Pakistan

Ricky Ponting reveals why Pakistan failed to reach Champions Trophy semi-finals

Australia legend Ricky Ponting revealed the key reason behind the Pakistan team’s failure to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals.

The hosts and defending champions, Pakistan, were eliminated after losing their first two matches against New Zealand and India, respectively.

Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the opening game of the eight-nation tournament.

After their defeat against the Black Caps, Pakistan lost against arch-rivals India, courtesy of a master class from Virat Kohli, who smashed an unbeaten century, chasing a modest total of 241 runs in Dubai.

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Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting questioned whether Pakistan was maximizing the potential of their key players, particularly Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

“They haven’t been able to give their best back to their team. Those two guys had to stand up, they had to make big runs.”

“And they haven’t been able to do it in the first couple of games, and that might be the reason why Pakistan don’t make it through to the semi-finals,” Ponting said.

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have struggled to score runs in the marquee event. Azam scored a scratchy 64 off 90 balls against New Zealand, while Rizwan faced criticism for scoring 46 off 77 deliveries against arch-rival India.

Ricky Ponting also praised the Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli’s ability to step up in crucial games.

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“I’ve always said big games equal big names. You need your big names to stand up in those big moments, and no bigger game for India than a game against Pakistan,” he said.

“Your reputation is forged in what you do in the biggest contests on the international stage. So it’s no surprise to me that that has happened,” he concluded.

READ: Champions Trophy: Semi-final qualification scenario after South Africa-Australia washout

‘Pakistan must be at their absolute best to beat India’

Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting has weighed in on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between Pakistan and India, offering advice to the defending champions ahead of their must-win encounter in Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan’s campaign got off to a disastrous start with a crushing 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi.

With zero points on the board, Mohammad Rizwan and his team must now beat India to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Meanwhile, India head into this game full of confidence after easing past Bangladesh in their opening match.

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Assessing both teams’ recent performances, Ponting admitted that Pakistan face an uphill battle against their arch-rivals but reminded everyone of their trademark unpredictability.

“It’s going to be hard for Pakistan now,” Ponting said. “We spoke only a few days ago, and my prediction was that Pakistan would beat New Zealand quite comfortably.”

“But Fakhar’s injury didn’t help, and they were chasing a big total after some great batting from New Zealand. To post 320 was always going to be a tough ask.”

However, the legendary Australian batter refused to count Pakistan out entirely.

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“With Pakistan, we say it before every tournament – they’re unpredictable. You never quite know what they’re going to do,” he added.

Ricky Ponting stressed that Pakistan can still make a comeback but will have to bring their absolute best to the field against a well-settled Indian side.

“On their day, they’re as capable as anyone. But now, after losing to New Zealand, they’ll need to be at their absolute best to beat India,” he remarked.

“India’s off to a great start, Pakistan not so much. And with Fakhar’s injury, it’s going to be tough for them to bounce back—but they can.”

READ: Champions Trophy on the line—Can Pakistan stun India to survive?

Ricky Ponting, Ravi Shastri predict Champions Trophy 2025 finalists

Former Australian and Indian great players Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri predicted the two former champion teams as the finalists of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan.

Ponting and Shastri made bold predictions about two teams reaching the finals due to their recent performances in major tournaments.

The duo made these predictions in a bumper episode of The ICC Review while speaking to the host Sanjana Ganesan.

While sharing his views in the episode Ricky Ponting predicted Australia and India to play in the big final.

”It’s hard to go past India and Australia again,” Ponting told The ICC Review.

“Just think about the quality of players in both countries right now, and you look back in recent history when these big finals and big ICC events have come around and inevitably Australia and India are there somewhere” said the Australian legend.

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Meanwhile, Ponting also named Pakistan as another team that could pose a significant challenge to the two teams.

“The other team that is playing some really good cricket at the moment is Pakistan, Their one-day cricket over the last little bit has been outstanding.”

“We know they’re not always the most predictable team in those big tournaments, but they seem like they’ve sorted things out a little bit” Ponting concluded.

Moreover, along with tipping the Indian team to go all the way in the tournament, Former India head coach Ravi Shastri predicted England and South Africa as the other semi-finalists of the mega event.

The eight-team ICC Champions Trophy will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

The three group matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

READ: Champions Trophy 2025: Physical tickets to go on sale from 3 February