Australia vs India: Ricky Ponting Reveals His Choice For Australia's Openers For Adelaide Test

With Australia finding themselves in a tough spot regarding the openers’ slot ahead of the first Test against India, former captain Ricky Ponting has revealed his pick for the top-order positions. Australia are in a crisis following injuries to David Warner and Will Pucovski.

Both the openers are out of the first Test. Warner is struggling with the muscle injury he had sustained during the second ODI against India last month while Pucovski is out after coping a blow on his head during the first tour game earlier this month.

Joe Burns’ terrible form has only made things worse for the hosts. And with Australia now mulling on who should open the innings in Adelaide, Ricky Ponting has backed Burns to resume his position at the top of Australia’s Test batting order for the upcoming game despite the late addition of Marcus Harris to the Test squad.

Ricky Ponting has also found a way to include 21-year-old Cameron Green in the XI, suggesting Matthew Wade would relish the chance to open the batting in the absence of the injured David Warner. The legendary cricketer was impressed with Burns last summer and threw his support behind the under-pressure opener.

“I’m sticking with Joe Burns,” Ricky Ponting said on Seven. “I’ve heard a lot of suggestions that he hasn’t scored enough runs to stay in the side but I’m keeping him in there.

“He made 40 in his last Test innings, he’s made four Test hundreds, averages almost 40 – I’m sticking with him and showing some faith. I think he’s good enough to get through it.

“What Marcus Harris hasn’t done is score (Test) hundreds – (his) highest score is 70-odd, (whereas) Joe Burns can score Test match hundreds. I’m sticking with him,” he added.

Burns has performed terribly with the bat in the ongoing season. In nine first-class innings this summer, the 31-year-old has made 62 runs at 6.89, with a highest score of 29. His most recent four innings have come against the touring Indians, against whom he has made scores of 4, 0, 0, 1.

“What I am doing is moving Matthew Wade up to the top of the order to open with (Burns), (give) a left-hand, right-hand combination,” Ricky Ponting further added. “We saw last time India were out here and we had two left-handers at the top of the order, the India bowling attack absolutely dominated the two lefties, so that’s the way I’m going.

“I think you’ve got to tell Wade it’s just for one game. ‘Wadey’ will want to do it; he’ll be excited by this, he’s that sort of character that he’d love the chance to get up there and take on the Indian opening bowlers in a Test match. He won’t shy away from it,” he added.

If Matthew Wade is promoted as an opener, it will make room for Cameron Green in the middle-order. Speaking about it, the former Australia captain said:

“Hopefully he’s fit – he had that concussion sub in the last Australia A game but he’s in very, very good form so I’d slot him in at number six. I’m really excited by him and looking forward to watching him play.”

Also Read: Ravichandran Ashwin Or Kuldeep Yadav? Shane Warne Picks His Choice For Adelaide Test

Also Read: Forget What Has Happened In The ODIs, Just Focus On Test cricket: Sachin Tendulkar Suggests Indian Bowlers