Former Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting admitted that he couldn’t think that India would defeat Australia in the first Test of the BGT 2024 that was played at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
India won the series opener by a remarkable 295 runs despite being swept out for 150 in the first innings after deciding to bat first.
However, guided by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, they came back and bowled out Australia for 104 in the first innings, before adding to their 46-run lead to set a mammoth target of 534 runs in the fourth innings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli hit hundreds, while Indian bowlers routed Australia batters for 238 runs despite a valiant 89 by Travis Head, as India won by 295 runs to go 1-0 up in the five-Test series.
"Australia lost by what? Nearly 300 runs. So, they'll be very disappointed. Everyone asked me on day one when India won the toss about having a bat, and I said, no, absolutely, you have to bat first there. Four test matches have been played there. The team batting first has won all four times. You don't want to go against what the stats say. Although they were out for 150, they still got a chance to bowl on the wicket when it was probably at its best to bowl on. And Bumrah in those conditions, and Siraj, and actually all three of them. And Nitish Reddy today, they're all very good,” Ponting said on Star Sports.
Ponting admitted that he didn’t expect India to emerge victorious but mentioned their improvement on away tours in the longest format in recent times.
“So, you've got to give them credit. I must admit, I didn't think that they could win the first test, India, going there in Perth with conditions that are so foreign to them. But I also made a point going into the test match that I actually think India is a better team away from home now than they are at home. I think they play foreign wickets and conditions better than they play their own conditions now. And I think that's been proven over the last week in Perth,” he added.
The second Test will be played in Adelaide from December 6 onwards and will be a day-night affair with the pink ball. Before this, India will take on PM XI in a two-day pink ball practice game at the Manuka Oval on November 30 and December 1.
