weather_iconDublin | 13.38 °C | AQI 5
Sunday, 24 November, 2024

---Advertisement---

Sports

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Ricky Ponting’s Bold Prediction! Australia To Beat India 3-1

Ricky Ponting predicts Australia will win 3-1 against India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, naming top run-scorers and wicket-takers.

Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has confidently reaffirmed his prediction that Australia will come out on top in the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India. Ponting had previously forecasted a 3-1 victory for Australia in August. After watching India’s recent series loss to New Zealand, coupled with the injury of key pacer Mohammed Shami, the former Australian captain feels even more certain of his prediction.

---Advertisement---

Australia’s Home Advantage: A Key Factor

Ponting highlighted that Australia’s home conditions would be a significant factor in the series, with India facing an uphill battle to take the 20 wickets required to win a Test match. Shami’s absence from the Indian squad, which leaves a significant hole in their bowling attack, will likely make that task even harder. Although Ponting acknowledges that India may win one of the five Test matches, he remains confident in Australia’s overall strength and depth.

“I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches,” Ponting stated, “but I still think Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know they’re a very hard team to beat at home.”

---Advertisement---

Also Read: SA Vs IND, T20I Series: Live Streaming, Full Squads- All You Need To Know

Ricky Ponting’s Prediction For Leading Run-Scorer

As for the leading run-scorer of the series, Ponting named two players who he believes have the potential to top the chart: Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant. Ponting sees Steve Smith, who is set to return to his familiar No.4 position after a brief stint as an opener, as one of the favorites to accumulate the most runs. Smith’s move back to No.4, according to Ponting, will allow him to prove himself in his preferred role.

“I think Smith, the fact that he’s moved back down from opener to No.4, probably makes it feel like he’s got more of a point to prove,” Ponting explained.

On the other hand, Ponting also has high hopes for Rishabh Pant, particularly given his form and the likelihood of him batting in the middle order when the ball is older, and its hardness diminished. Pant’s aggressive and dynamic style of batting could make him a key figure in the series.

Josh Hazlewood: Australia’s Leading Wicket-Taker

Ponting has backed Josh Hazlewood to finish as the leading wicket-taker of the series, praising his consistency and current peak form. While Australia’s pace attack features other high-profile bowlers such as Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Ponting believes Hazlewood is in the best shape to feature in all five Tests.

“I think Hazlewood out of the Australian quicks is probably at the peak of his powers more than the other guys,” Ponting noted. “So I’ll go with him for the leading wicket-taker.”

India’s Challenge: The Absence Of Mohammed Shami

India’s bowling attack will undoubtedly feel the absence of Mohammed Shami, one of their most experienced fast bowlers, who has been ruled out of the series due to injury. Ponting emphasized that Shami’s unavailability would make it even harder for India to take the necessary 20 wickets required to win each Test. This, combined with Australia’s settled lineup and strong home record, gives the hosts a significant edge going into the series.

Key Dates: India vs Australia Test Series Begins November 22

The first Test of this critical ICC World Test Championship series is scheduled to begin on November 22, with both teams at the top of the WTC standings. This series could prove decisive in determining the finalists for the ongoing WTC cycle. As the battle for Test supremacy continues, all eyes will be on how both teams perform in what promises to be a thrilling five-match contest.

Also Read: SA Vs IND, T20I Series: Arshdeep Singh On The Brink Of Achieving A New Milestone

HISTORY

Written By

Aditya Mallick


Get Breaking News First and Latest Updates from India and around the world on News24. Follow News24 on Facebook, Twitter.

Related Story

Live News

---Advertisement---


live

IPL Retention 2025: CSK Retain Dhoni As ‘Uncapped Player’, Kohli Retained For Rs 21 Cr

Oct 31, 2024
  • 17:52 (IST) 31 Oct 2024

    IPL Player Retention: MS Dhoni is back in action for CSK!

  • 17:51 (IST) 31 Oct 2024

    IPL Player Retention: Official retentions for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

  • 17:50 (IST) 31 Oct 2024

    IPL Player Retention: No Shreyas Iyer for KKR

N24 Shorts Logo

SHORTS

PM Narendra Modi with Eknath Shinde
Beyond News

A Shift Towards BJP's Aggressive Hindutva Amid Opposition's Leadership Crisis

The Maharashtra election may further push the Congress down as it has lost the election at a time when it needed a win most desperately. Though the Congress succeeded in pushing the BJP to a corner and stopping it at less than a majority on its own, it failed to make any headway further.

View All Shorts

---Advertisement---

Trending