TIME TO MAN UP

Too little, too late for Root insists Ponting

RICKY PONTING has launched a scathing attack on Joe Root’s leadership, insisting he needs to wise up, step up and man up.

The Aussie legend accused the 26-year-old of sounding like a “little boy” after defeats in Brisbane and Perth.

And he said the England skipper is deluding himself if he thinks his side have been competitive as they head into the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne trailing 3-0.

Ponting, a pundit for BT Sport, who led Australia in four Ashes series, said: “Joe seems like he is under the sort of extreme pressure that he has never felt before.

“And while I know he is not too forthright, he has been really quiet and too shy to say too much. They need him to step up big time.

“The way he answered a lot of the questions after the game last week and the Brisbane game seemed almost like a little boy.

“You need to be more than that as a leader, especially when things aren’t going well. Even if it is not natural to you, sometimes you have to put on a different face and stand up for what ® from RODNEY WHITE you think is right and what you believe in, not only inside the dressing room but outside it as well. “For me, it just looks like it has been a little bit soft.” Ponting (below) did not spare England’s senior players either, insisting off-field behaviour, stretching from Ben Stokes in Bristol to late nights in Perth, demonstrated a lack of respect for Root. He said: “Joe has been under pressure because of things that have been happening off the field and those things show a complete lack of respect for him as captain. “If you are found out doing the wrong thing, it doesn’t just impact on you, it impacts your captain. He was the one fronting the press conferences and doing the talking and it does show a lack of respect.”

Ponting also dismissed claims by coach Trevor Bayliss and Root that England have been competitive.

He added: “They keep talking about how good they have been through the series and how competitive they have been at different times. I am not seeing that.”

The Aussies will almost certainly be without Mitchell Starc, who has a bruised heel, with Jackson Bird set to replace him.

England will take a look at the wicket before deciding whether to hand a debut to leg spinner Mason Crane or medium pacer Tom Curran in place of Craig Overton. ¬ÊWatch the Ashes exclusively live on BT Sport throughout the series with daily highlights, and short highlights available for free every evening from 7pm on bt. com and on the BT Sport app. For more information visit www.bt.com/sport