BGT 2024-25: Ponting optimistic about uncapped Australia opener
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes 19-year-old rookie opener Sam Konstas has what it takes to make a mark in the remaining Border-Gavaskar trophy Tests against India.
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes 19-year-old rookie opener Sam Konstas has what it takes to make a mark in the remaining Border-Gavaskar trophy Tests against India.
If Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane were Australian strongholds, Melbourne brings happy memories for India as the tourists return to the iconic ground having won the last two Tests at the MCG in 2018-19 and 2020-21, and the New Year’s Test in Sydney will bring spin into play.
Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat in the middle order in the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, has failed to yield the desired results for the Indian team in the Border-Gavaskar series so far.
Konstas was drafted in for the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, replacing Nathan McSweeney after the 25-year-old failed to decode the Indian pace ace and was dismissed four times across six innings by the right-arm quick.
Cricket Australia has advised the sold-out crowd on Boxing Day to brace for extreme conditions, with CA’s chief of cricket James Allsopp encouraging fans to take proper precautions while assuring additional drinks breaks for the players involved in the Test match.
Ever since the retirement of David Warner in January, Australia have struggled to sort out their top order conundrum, and had tried Steve Smith for sometime before opting for McSweeney in the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Moments after the rain-marred Brisbane Test ended in a draw, India’s star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday shocked the cricketing world by announcing his immediate retirement from international cricket, midway through the Border-Gavaskar series.
India and Australia will head to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Testwith the five-match Border-Gavaskar series squared at one-all after heavy Brisbane rain swept away any chance of a result on the final day of the third Test at the Gabba.
After his failure to replicate the success of Perth in Adelaide, there were growing calls of dropping K L Rahul back to No.6, but the Karnataka right-hander continued to enjoy the backing of the team management, and walked out as the opener at the Gabba.
Australia’s decision to rush back Josh Hazlewood for the Gabba Test backfired as the 32-year-old broke down in the middle of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and potentially runs the risk of missing the remainder of the ongoing Test, and the series, as well.
