Australia may need a number of shock inclusions in upcoming Ashes collection: Ricky Ponting

India vs Australia: The Ashes collection, set to be performed in late June can have a number of shock inclusions from the Australia facet, Ricky Ponting mentioned in an episode of ICC overview.

Melbourne,UPDATED: Mar 8, 2023 16:28 IST

Ricky Ponting feels Australia may need a number of newcomers for Ashes 2023. (Reuters Photo)

By India Today Sports Desk: Former Australia captain and top-of-the-line batters to have graced the sport of cricket, Ricky Ponting feels that Australia may need a number of surpise inclusions of their tour of England.

Australian batters like David Warner and Matt Renshaw have been in horrible kind within the Test collection vs India, with a number of former Australia cricketers questioning their spot within the Test facet. Speaking to the ICC overview, Ponting mentioned that one shouldn’t be shocked if Australia make some daring selections for the Ashes collection, set to start out in late June.

“Lance Morris is part of that (India) squad and maybe someone like Aaron Hardie (could be a surprise inclusion). I actually threw his (Hardie) name up when Cameron Green was going to miss that last Test (against South Africa due to finger injury) in Sydney,” Ponting informed ICC Review on Wednesday, March 8.

“I threw Aaron Hardie’s name up as an all-rounder, a similar type of player to Green, not as quick with the ball, but a very good batsman who made a brilliant a hundred in the (domestic) Sheffield Shield final last year.”

The legend felt that if all-rounder Mitchell Marsh returns to full health, he might get the nod forward of Hardie.

“But his (Hardie) selection might depend on someone like Mitchell Marsh, if he’s back to full fitness, then he’s probably going to find his way on the plane to England as a back-up all-rounder for Cameron Green as well.”

On whether or not Renshaw and Handscomb, two probably good gamers of spin bowling, can be within the England-bound squad, Ponting mentioned, “Matt Renshaw was picked on this (India) tour because everyone felt he was a good player of spin. Peter Handscomb was picked on this tour to India because he’s a good player of spin bowling.

“I believe you’ve got seen that via this collection at totally different occasions. But when you concentrate on the totally different set of circumstances within the UK, then I would not be shocked if perhaps neither of these guys are on that tour.

“I think there’s a good chance that Renshaw will be on that tour, but I’m not so sure about Handscomb and if he’ll make it to England or not.”

Edited By:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published On:

Mar 8, 2023