India far from settled: Ponting, makes case for Burns to open
Even a full-strength India side for the first Test Down Under is far from settled, according to former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting. Adding to the uncertainty around the make-up of the visitors’ squad for the rest of the series will be the premature departure of their captain, Virat Kohli, Ponting adds.
Current holders of the Border-gavaskar Trophy, India, will be without Kohli for the final three Tests as he will return to India to be with his wife Anushka Sharma who is expecting their first child.
Moreover, with the return of Steve Smith and David Warner -- who were not part of Australia’s 2018-19 series -- the visitors will face an even more daunting task this time around in their quest to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“The one thing we haven’t spoken enough about is yes India were really good here last time, but with those guys (Smith and Warner) missing at the top of the order, that leaves a big gap in any team,” Ponting told cricket. com.au.
“India will feel that without Kohli there (for three Tests), for his bating and leadership, that will put all sorts of pressure on different players. You’d think (Ajinkya) Rahane will take over the captaincy, which will put extra pressure on him, and they’ve got to find someone to bat at that really important No.4 spot,” he added.
According to the former Australia skipper, once Kohli goes, India will not be “clear in their own mind” with their bating order even for the first Test -- a day-night fixture slated to be played at the Adelaide Oval from Dec.17.
“I don’t think they’ll be clear in their own mind, even now, what their bating order will look like for the first Test. Who’s going to open, who’ll bat at four when Kohli goes?” said Ponting.
“(Fast bowlers Mohammad) Shami, Jasprit Bumrah -- will it be Ishant (Sharma), with it be Umesh Yadav, will it be a young guy like (Navdeep) Saini or (Mohammad) Siraj? The questions that are being asked around Australia with (Will) Pucovski and (Cameron) Green, I think India have got a few more questions to answer,” he added.
Meanwhile, he believes the Australian team management should stick with Joe Burns as David Warner’s opener for the Adelaide Test. In fact, Australian head coach Justin Langer has reiterated that he would want continue opening the batting with senior batsman Burns.
There have been many calls for the inclusion of 22-year-old batsman Pucovski for the pink-ball Test, including that from former captain Mark Taylor.
“We can’t underestimate the stability in the team, we are the number one ranked team in the world. A lot of that has to do with the partnership between David Warner and Joe Burns,” Langer said.
“Burns hasn’t done much wrong. If you go back to last summer, he played really well in the first Test in Brisbane and I remember saying then to lock him in and give him a good go at it for a while,” Ponting said.
Ponting has also warned against making changes to a Test side that’s riding a fivematch winning streak and is currently placed at the number one spot, despite not having played since early January.
“But I think that’s where this one becomes a unique one; Burns is about 30, and you’ve got a young guy who seems to be at the peak of his powers, who’s been touted as a very good player for Australia and has been for a few years. That’s where the decision is going to be a really tough one for them,” he added.
The former Australia skipper however said Pucovski is doing everything he can to make his Test debut this summer.
“I’m just reading the tea leaves a litle bit, even with what Justin had to say about the relationship between Burns and Warner, my gut feeling is they won’t go to Pucovski just yet,” said Ponting.
“But it’ll only be a few slip ups from a few players and we know who the next cab off the rank is going to be. (Opening) is just another string to (Pucovski’s) bow. I’m sure if a middle order spot came up and they weren’t thinking about playing an all-rounder, I’d think his name would be mentioned ahead of Cameron Green,” he added.
‘I don’t think they’ll be clear in their own mind, even now, what their bating order will look like for the first Test. Who’s going to open, who’ll bat at four when Kohli goes? I think India have got a few more questions to answer’ – Ponting