Tell Joe what is happening says Ponting

the Big Bash in Australia. “For Joe’s sake and for English cricket’s sake, if they are going to make the decision that Alastair is not going to captain in November they are better off making that decision sooner rather than later.”

Root, above, in India as England wrap up their tour with three T20 internationals, is expected to find out whether he is to succeed Cook at the end of the month.

Ponting believes Kevin Pietersen’s Melbourne Stars outfit may just find Perth Scorchers too hot to handle on their home patch in the first of the Big Bash semi-finals today.

Ponting is also predicting that Brisbane Heat will complete a white-hot line-up in the final with victory over Sydney Sixers tomorrow morning.

“The competition this year has been the most even of any year,” he said. “And to try to pick a winner this season has been nigh on impossible.

“I am going for the Scorchers to beat the Stars and the Heat to beat Sixers.

“And if those two teams make the final it will be in Perth and I think the Scorchers can win. The balance of their squad looks right.”

WATCH the Big Bash League semi-finals live on BT Sport 2 this morning and tomorrow from 8.30am and the Big Bash final on BT Sport 1 on Saturday from 8.30am.