Ricky Ponting Took 'Worst Decision Ever' By Any Captain: Shane Warne On 2005 Birmingham Test

Ricky Ponting is easily one of the most successful captain in international cricket and Australia the most dominating side in the Ashes. Ricky Ponting led Australia to 77 Test matches, which included the 5-0 drubbing of England in 2006-7 in the Ashes, at home. His captaincy record in the Test included 48 wins, 16 losses and 13 draws with a win per cent of 62.33. Besides the success, Ricky Ponting is also in the top five list of most matches as a captain in the longest format.

However, there were some setbacks for Ponting. One such came in the away Ashes in 2005, when England won the Birmingham Test by two runs. His former teammate and spin wizard Shane Warne believes it was one of the worst decision taken by any captain.

Ricky Ponting’s decision to bowl was the worst-ever: Shane Warne

Australia are a dominant force in the Ashes. After Mike Gatting led England to Ashes triumph in 1986, Australia won eight Ashes on the trot between 1989 to 2002. The Birmingham Test in 2005 has been considered as one of the finest match played in the Ashes. England won it by two runs with Australia requiring 107 runs to win on the penultimate days, with two wickets in hand.

Shane Warne said the Birmigham track was a road and the ball did not do much. In such conditions, opting to bowl was a poor call taken by Ricky Ponting, believes Shane Warne. He said that when sitting together with Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Marcus Trescothick and Steve Harmison to watch the greatest moments from the Australia vs England clash.

“Nasser (Hussain) goes down as one of those people that had one of the worst-ever decisions when he said ‘we’ll have a bowl, thanks’ at Brisbane [in the 2002/03 Ashes], but at least at The Gabba the ball swings or does something on day one. This was a road and the ball did nothing.