Ashes 2021-22: England's Planning Has Been Completely Wrong, Asserts Ricky Ponting

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting slammed Joe Root-led England side for erroneous planning for the Ashes 2021-22.

On Tuesday, Australia handed England a humiliating defeat by an innings and 14 runs as the hosts were relentless and aggressive with their bowling execution.

Debutant Scott Boland, who is the local player of Melbourne, scripted remarkable figures of six wickets for seven runs. England were bundled up for 68 inside the first session as Australia clinched the series 3-0 to retain the Ashes.

England have come here and been pantsed again: Ricky Ponting

Ponting said that England didn’t plan anything right from the Brisbane Test itself and that is something that haunted them en route to Melbourne.

“All their planning, their thoughts and their structures have just been completely wrong, and it’s come back to bite them,” Ponting said on Channel Seven.

“There’s no good looking forward from Brisbane if you’re going to be one or two-nil down. And that’s what it was: they planned for Melbourne – already being two-nil down, they’ve come here and been pantsed again. So, they’ve got some really, really deep thinking to do,” he added.

Ricky Ponting slams England’s team selection for the first two Tests

In the first Test in Brisbane, England dropped their senior bowling pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The duo returned in the second Test at the cost of Mark Wood and Jack Leach.

Ponting chastised England for their selection decisions and also pointed out that Root missed the trick by not bowling first after winning the toss at the Gabba.

“They’ve out-thought themselves with their selections for Brisbane, looking forward to Adelaide and then looking forward to the MCG,” Ponting said.

“Pick your best team from the start and then see how far that group can take you. The fact that Anderson and Broad didn’t play in Brisbane is staggering.”

“The fact that Joe Root didn’t bowl first in Brisbane was staggering. The fact that Mark Wood didn’t play in Adelaide was staggering. He looked like one of the most likely bowlers up in Brisbane,” he further added.

Australia plays against England in the fourth Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting on January 5.

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: Ben Stokes Hasn’t Looked Physically Aggressive That Opposition Team Feared To Bowl To: Ricky Ponting