"I Think Australia's Chances Really Hinge On The Upcoming Indian Tour" - Ricky Ponting
Updated - 29 Jul 2022, 03:29 PM
The 2023 Border-Gavaskar series, according to legendary captain Ricky Ponting, will have a significant impact on India and Australia’s efforts to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Next year, the two countries will face off in a four-match Test series on the subcontinent.
India and Australia are now ranked second and fourth in the points table, respectively. After their journey to India, the Pat Cummins-led team will host West Indies and South Africa. In contrast, India will play Bangladesh in a two-match Test series away from home before the Border-Gavaskar series.
India vs Australia Rivalry Is Just Growing Year On Year: Ricky Ponting
According to Ricky Ponting in the most recent ICC Review, the match between India and Australia is one of the most anticipated on the calendar.
“I think Australia’s chances really hinge on the upcoming Indian tour, to be honest and India’s chances are a little bit the same.
It is always a much-anticipated series – Australia and India, whether it be in Australia or in India – it’s much hyped up and talked about, the rivalry between the two countries is just growing year on year.”
Australia’s current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has seen them play five tests in the subcontinent. The Men in Yellow defeated Pakistan in a series by a score of 1-0, but recently drew 1-1 in Sri Lanka.
Ricky Ponting Backs Steve Smith And Marnus Labuschagne To Score Big And Overtake Joe Root In Batting Rankings
Joe Root has far outpaced his competitors after scoring at an incredible rate over the past 18 months. With a rating of 923, the former England captain now occupies the top spot in the Test batting statistics.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, both Australians, hold two of the top four positions, with Babar Azam coming in at number three.
Ricky Ponting predicted that Smith and Labuschagne will score a lot in Australia’s forthcoming games.
“Both of those guys have outstanding records in Australia. I think looking back at last week, it was Marnus’ first hundred (against Sri Lanka) outside Australia. In saying that, it’s been in Australia in the last couple of years where Smith has had most troubles.”
Ponting concluded: “One thing I know is his class is permanent. Whether it’s Smith or Labuschagne or even Virat, when he bounces back to his career-best form, any one of those guys – and Babar Azam is another one – they can overtake Root in the next few months.”
As a result of a disappointing tour of England, Virat Kohli dropped out of the top 10 Test batter rankings.
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Joe Root Marnus Labuschagne Ricky Ponting Steve Smith Virat Kohli
