The legendary Ricky Ponting feels Australian skipper Pat Cummins is extra of an quaint Check captain, who lets “plans unravel” whereas his English counter half Ben Stokes tries to make one thing occur each ball. The choices of the 2 comparatively new captains within the ongoing Ashes sequence have given rise to intense debates.
Whereas Stokes’ name to declare early within the first innings within the opening Check was dissected by media and pundits alike, Cummins’ sparse use of rookie spinner Todd Murphy within the loss at Headingley additionally raised eyebrows.
“I feel this has been one of the tactical sequence that I might bear in mind, due to the 2 totally different types of play, most likely two contrasting types of management as effectively,” Ponting mentioned ‘The ICC Overview’.
“Pat (Cummins) is extra of an old school type of Check match captain the place he type of lets units fields and lets plans type of unravel and is glad to do it over a protracted time period, whereas Stokes is a bit the opposite method.
“He’s type of making an attempt to make one thing occur each ball and due to this fact generally plans by no means actually have an opportunity to eventuate,” Ponting added.
Having been elevated to Check captain after Tim Paine’s sudden resignation forward of the 2021 Ashes, Cummins has loved a superb run because the skipper. The Australian tempo spearhead started his captaincy stint successful the final Ashes sequence 4-0, then gained towards Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa. Australia additionally drew 1-1 with Sri Lanka away from residence final 12 months. His solely sequence loss got here towards India earlier this 12 months earlier than defeating the Rohit Sharma led aspect within the ultimate to elevate the World Check Championship mace.
“Look, Pat continues to be pretty younger within the job. Let’s not neglect that he’s solely been doing it for a few years now and I’m positive he’s studying alongside the way in which,” Ponting mentioned.
Australia lead the sequence 2-1 heading into the fourth Check beginning in Manchester on Wednesday.
“I’m not going to query Pat in any respect. The truth that Australia are 2-1 up says he’s finished a superb job to me.
“There’ll at all times be little issues in a sport. If you lose, there are at all times little issues in a sport that persons are glad to speak about.
“However on the finish of the day, I feel the techniques are higher off ready to see what the result’s on the finish of the sequence after which we’ll be capable to critique each captains on the outcome.”