The legendary Ricky Ponting feels Australian skipper Pat Cummins is extra of an old school Take a look at captain, who lets “plans unravel” whereas his English counterpart Ben Stokes tries to make one thing occur each ball.
The choices of the 2 comparatively new captains within the ongoing Ashes collection have given rise to intense debates.
Whereas Stokes’s name to declare early within the first innings within the opening Take a look at was dissected by media and pundits alike, Cummins’s sparse use of rookie spinner Todd Murphy within the loss at Headingley additionally raised eyebrows.
“I believe this has been some of the tactical collection that I may bear in mind, due to the 2 completely different types of play, most likely two contrasting types of management as properly,” Ponting stated ‘The ICC Evaluation’.
“Pat (Cummins) is extra of an old school type of Take a look at match captain the place he type of units fields and lets plans type of unravel and is glad to do it over an extended time period, whereas Stokes is a bit the opposite approach.
“He is 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 Take a look at captain after Tim Paine’s sudden resignation forward of the 2021 Ashes, Cummins has loved an excellent run because the skipper.
The Australian tempo spearhead started his captaincy stint successful the final Ashes collection 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 collection loss got here towards India earlier this 12 months earlier than defeating the Rohit Sharma led aspect within the last to raise the World Take a look at Championship mace.
“Look, Pat remains to be pretty younger within the job. Let’s not overlook that he is solely been doing it for a few years now and I am certain he is studying alongside the best way,” Ponting stated.
Australia lead the collection 2-1 heading into the fourth Take a look at beginning in Manchester on Wednesday.
“I am not going to query Pat in any respect. The truth that Australia are 2-1 up says he is completed an excellent job to me.
“There’ll at all times be little issues in a sport. Whenever you lose, there are at all times little issues in a sport that individuals are glad to speak about.
“However on the finish of the day, I believe the techniques are higher off ready to see what the result’s on the finish of the collection after which we’ll be capable of critique each captains on the end result.”
