Ashes 2023: "A Bit Like Brett Lee In His Prime" - Ricky Ponting Lauds Mark Wood's Impressive Bowling Performances In 3rd Test

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that he was impressed with England fast bowler Mark Wood’s bowling in the third Test match of the ongoing Ashes series. Ricky Ponting drew comparisons between Mark Wood and his former teammates Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.

Mark Wood, who missed the first two Tests, made a brilliant comeback in the third match. The right-arm fast bowler took seven wickets in the match and made valuable contributions with the bat. He was rewarded with the Player of the Match award for his contributions with both bat and ball.

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He Is Just An Absolute Strike Weapon – Ricky Ponting

Speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Ricky Ponting lauded Mark Wood and described him as an “absolute strike weapon.”

“(Wood) is a bit like him (Johnson) and a bit like Brett Lee in his prime I reckon as well,” Ponting told ICC.

Also read: AUS vs ENG: “They Probably Missed Him In The First Two Matches”- Brad Hogg Lauds Mark Wood’s Bowling At Headingley

“Bowling first change, bowling quickly, intimidating batsmen, getting a little bit of movement when it was there. He is just an absolute strike weapon,” he added.

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He’s Going To Be Really Dangerous – Ricky Ponting

Ponting emphasized that it would be difficult for Mark Wood to maintain fitness and a consistent pace in consecutive Tests. The World Cup-winning captain said that the batters would struggle to face Wood’s mid-90-mph bowling as he is quiet skiddy.

“I think the biggest challenge is getting him through the next couple of games. I know he said after Headingley that he got through I think three Test matches in a row in Australia in the last Ashes series and did it OK,” he further stated.

Also read: Ashes 2023: “The Truth Is I’ve Always Found It Difficult Bowling To Davey, And I Still Do” – Stuart Broad On David Warner

“The challenge for him is going to be if he keeps his pace at that sort of mid-90 miles an hour because they’re like those guys that you know he’s not overly tall, he’s quite skiddy and when they’re not at their absolute top pace-wise they can be quite easy to face.

They don’t get steep bounce, they skid onto the bat and they don’t have a lot of movement, but if he can keep his pace up at the absolute top like it was at Leeds then he’s going to be really dangerous for the Aussies that’s for sure,” he concluded.

The Ben Stokes-led team will take on the Pat Cummins-led team in the fourth Test of the five-match series at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on Wednesday, July 19.

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