‘Trust your game like Virat Kohli to turn things around’: Ricky Ponting tells Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne | Cricket News
After a 295-run loss to India at Perth, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has some advice for the struggling Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. “Marnus looked the most tentative out of all the batters in Perth. Yes, it was high quality bowling on a difficult wicket, but he needs to find a way to turn it around,” Ponting told ICC Review. Marnus seemed to be troubled the pace attack of the Indian side, scoring just 2 off 52 in the first innings, and quickly being departed with 3 off 5 deliveries in the second innings.
Smith too looked a little uncomfortable at the crease, barely being able to middle the ball. He had a first ball duck in the first innings, and edged the ball to Pant off Mohammed Siraj for just 17 off 60 deliveries. Siraj and Bumrah seemed to be the bowlers to trouble the two batters the most.
Ponting lauded Kohli’s game in the second innings, and has advised Marnus and Smith to shadow Kohli’s mindset of focusing on their own strength rather than trying to fight the opposition. “He (Kohli) got away from trying to combat the opposition and focused on his strengths. That’s what Marnus and (Steve) Smith need to do – find their own way and show great intent,”
Ponting noticed how Kohli went back to trusting his game, and trusting himself making him look like a completely different player in the second innings, as he went on to score his 30th test ton. He didn’t lose any opportunity to score easy runs, and eventually accelerated his innings, which put pressure on the bowlers causing them to falter their line and length. “You have to find a way to take risks and put it back on those guys because you know the Bumrahs of the world… they’re not going to give you too many easy scoring opportunities. When they do, you’ve got to be ready to pounce on it and put it away and try and put some pressure back on them,” Ponting further explained.
(With inputs from PTI)
