Australia vs India 2018-19: Ricky Ponting Slams 'No Desperation' of Australian Team

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has slammed ‘No Desperation’ from the current team. Ponting lashed out at Nathan Lyon for not going for the review when Australia had two reviews left. Lyon was hit on the pads but decided not to take the review and walked back to the pavilion.

Consequently, Ricky Ponting was not pleased by the same and he thinks it was lack of intent to not stay out there and fight. Meanwhile, Australia was skittled out for 300 runs in the first innings and was asked to follow on by Indian skipper Virat Kohli. However, the play could not resume due to bad light on the penultimate day.

Lack of intent from Australia.

“That dismissal actually says a lot to me about the mindset of this Australian team at the moment. There’s no desperation there whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel Seven.

“Why wouldn’t they have had a look at that? They’ve still got the two reviews up their sleeve. There had to be some sort of doubt in that,” Ponting added.

On the other hand, Ricky Ponting also slammed Nathan Lyon’s partner Mitchell Starc for not telling his partner to go for the review. Ponting said Starc didn’t justify his role of a partner to Nathan Lyon.

“Given out straight away and Mitchell Starc just puts his hand out and says ‘oh well, it’s not me, it’s up to you to make (a call).”

“Well, unfortunately, when you’re out there together it’s a partnership. You’ve got to do whatever you can to try and save your mate. And there was absolutely none of that there,” he added.

In fact, the ball had stuck Nathan Lyon outside the off-stump and thus the impact was outside. Hence, had Lyon gone for the review, umpire Ian Gould would have reversed his decision. However, it wasn’t to be the case.

“And as it’s shown already that would have been given not out. Slack and not desperate enough. You can see where Mitchell Starc is standing at the non-striker’s end,” he added.

“One, look how wide he’s standing. There’s no need to be that wide in the first place. Nathan Lyon looks up, ‘Oh what do you reckon?’ ‘Oh, I don’t know mate. Yeah, I don’t know. But let’s not bother looking. We’ve only got two (reviews) up our sleeve,” Ponting said.

The fifth and final day of the Test series is also delayed due to rain. However, India is in winning position and also have a lead of 2-1 in the series.