ICC World Test Championship Final: "Mohammed Siraj Looks Like The Ultimate Competitor"- Ricky Ponting

Last Update on: June 9th, 2023 at 12:08 am

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Indian Cricket Team had a topsy-turvy Day 2 of the ICC WTC 2021-23 final. Mohammed Siraj played a key role in restricting Australia to 469. Mohammed Siraj took a 4-wicket haul and conceded 108 runs in his 28.3 overs.

India’s top order was exposed as the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara & Virat Kohli misjudged the ball as the track was slowly becoming treacherous. The Men in Blue were reduced to 71-4 and all of a sudden, the batters Ajinkya Rahane & Ravindra Jadeja slowly started rebuilding the innings.

Jadeja & Rahane were involved in an invaluable partnership of 71 runs in 99 balls as there was an uneven bounce in the surface, Nathan Lyon got the better of Jadeja as the left-handed batter was dismissed on 48 runs in 51 balls and struck 7 fours and 1 six. India at the end of Day 2 are 151-5 and are trailing by 318 runs

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship Final: Ajinkya Rahane Achieves A Massive Feat In the Tests; Joins The Likes Of Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar And Sunil Gavaskar

I saw Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma in the middle yesterday morning…- Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting was having an interaction with ICC and said that the Men in Blue were let down by themselves by bowling too short. Ponting wanted India’s bowlers to take 4-5 wickets in the morning session and took a unique stance that head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma took decisions about what they wanted to do at the toss.

“I think where they let themselves down was in the first hour yesterday and bowling too short With the wicket conditions, the overhead conditions they had and the brand new Dukes ball, they had to bowl fuller and get the ball driven back down the ground,” said Ricky Ponting.

“They needed to have Australia four or five down at lunch and they only had them two down which was a pretty good result (for Australia),” he stated.

“I know the captain wears the brunt of it (criticism), but I know it’s not only his decision. I saw Rahul Dravid and him out (Rohit) in the middle yesterday morning and they had a long discussion about what they wanted to do at the toss,” he added.

“If they wanted to bowl first I think they had to play the four seamers. So far you would say it hasn’t paid off – but there is a long way to go and we probably shouldn’t be too quick to judge,” he concluded.

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship Final: “Nice To Knock Shubman Gill Over Early” – Scott Boland Speaks On Picking Up The Wicket Of Indian Superstar

Maybe sometimes Mohammed Siraj gets carried away- Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting stated that Mohammed Siraj looks like an ultimate competitor. Ricky Ponting heaped praise on the dashing speedster Mohammed Siraj and said that the pacer is bowling around the 86-87 mile-an-hour mark which is massive.

“I loved seeing that and he looks like the ultimate competitor, Maybe sometimes Mohammed Siraj gets carried away and goes a little bit over the top, but you need those guys in your side when things aren’t going well,” said Ricky Ponting.

“He was the one today who said I am going to be the guy that is going to turn things around and what I loved was that his pace didn’t drop at all during the whole innings. From the first ball yesterday morning until late this afternoon, his pace was hovering around that 86 or 87-mile and hour mark and that says a lot about a great attitude,” he added.

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship Final: “IPL Talent Getting Exposed At The Oval” – Fans Rip Into Shubman Gill Following Disaster Innings In WTC Final