AUS vs ENG: Ricky Ponting Tears Apart Joe Root For His Wild Suggestion After 4th Ashes Test Ended In A Draw

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has ridiculed Joe Root’s recent suggestion about changing the laws of the game to counter the rain threat.

The existing rules and regulations have become the topic of discussion in the cricketing fraternity once again after rain denied England a chance of clinching a series-leveling draw against Australia in the ongoing Ashes. England were well on top in the game and were looking set to win the contest before rain shattered their hopes.

After bowling out Australia for 317 runs, England piled up a mammoth total of 592 runs in the first innings. In reply, Australia were on 214 for 5 in their second innings, still 61 runs behind before rain washed out the entire fifth day. The better part of the fourth day was also lost to rain as England could not force a result in Manchester due to weather conditions.

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The Test ending in a draw means Australia will retain the urn. England have not won the Ashes 2015 and are yet to reclaim the Ashes since the 2017/18 season. Following the disappointing end to the fourth Test, England star Joe Root suggested that the laws should be changed to allow the play to be extended till 10 pm on rainy days in England.

Speaking to BBC’s Test Match Specials, the former England captain questioned the lack of flexibility in the playing condition, saying: “It doesn’t get dark here in England until 10 pm in the summer, why can’t we just play until we bowl the overs?”

“There’s been a lot of chat about not bowling the overs. There are so many different ways of trying to find opportunities to get as much play in as possible. At every opportunity at every stage you should be looking to find ways to get the Test on. We batted in worse conditions at Edgbaston, but that is cricket. You just want consistency in those conditions.”

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Ricky Ponting unimpressed with Joe Root’s suggestion:

Joe Root’s suggestion, however, has not gone down well with Ricky Ponting. Ridiculing Root’s suggestion, the legendary skipper pointed out that the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester was not the first instance of rain playing spoilsport in a game. Ricky Ponting also insisted that he understood the hosts’ frustration over rain denying them a crucial win in the series.

“You can’t just choose to change the laws of the game whenever you want to,” Ponting told the ICC.

“I’m sure there have been times when England have wanted to not get back out there and play themselves. I mean, that’s just a ridiculous thing to say,” he added.

The fifth and final Test of the five-match series is scheduled to be played on Thursday (July 27) at the Oval. England will be looking to win the game and avoid a series defeat against Australia at home for the first time since 2001.

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