Australia was robbed of a Test victory at Headingley thanks to a Ben Stokes epic but that wouldn't play on the team's mind as it approaches Day 5 of the Manchester Test with an eye on taking the last eight English wickets and retaining the prestigious Ashes urn, believes former skipper Ricky Ponting.
With the series leveled 1-1, England finished Day 4 at 18/2, needing a further 365 runs for an unlikely victory at Old Trafford. "It's a completely different set of circumstances. Headingley, that wicket actually got better and better. It finished middle of day four, didn't even get into the fifth day. This pitch has got worse and worse as the days have gone on," Ponting told cricket.com.au.
Ponting further said, "Australia doesn't need to be spooked about anything there; one for the fact they should have won, but two it's not going to be easy for anyone starting on that pitch against Australia's attack. Nathan Lyon didn't get any wickets in the first innings, but he will in the second innings. There is going to be so much on offer for him out there it's not funny."
"Even some of the balls we saw today, the spin and bounce are going to be a nightmare for anyone starting against him," he added.
Ponting also criticized some of England's tactics on the penultimate day of the Test as captain Joe Root started off the session post-tea without either of his main wicket-takers Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad operating from one of the ends.
"I was extremely surprised at England's tactics after tea. To not start with one of Archer or Broad for me was staggering. I think the most important phase of play for England was the first hour after tea and they decided to go with Overton and Leach, and I know Overton only bowled three overs but it just seemed to quieten the whole crowd down and it gave Smith a chance to get in and get settled and start again," he said.
"They'll have their reasons, but it seemed as though they wanted Archer and Broad to bowl late in the session and slow the game down. I think they bowled six overs in 40 minutes. You'd have to say it's unacceptable to bowl seven-minute overs."
(Inputs from cricket.com.au)
