Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has firmly dismissed a provocative claim from his fellow Channel Seven commentator, Stuart Broad, that the current Australian Test side is the nation's weakest since 2010, setting the stage for a fiery Ashes battle.
Broad's Bold Declaration
The war of words began last month when the former England fast bowler, a long-time tormentor of Australia with 153 wickets from 40 Ashes Tests, made headlines on his podcast. Broad declared that the upcoming series would pit England's best team since their 3-1 win in Australia 15 years ago against what he called Australia's "most vulnerable" outfit over the same period.
Despite the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins for at least the first Test in Perth on November 21, Ponting expressed strong confidence in the home side's ability to cover any perceived weaknesses.
Ponting's Confident Counter
Speaking to SEN radio, Ponting painted a picture of a formidable Australian lineup. He argued that with the return of a fit and in-form Marnus Labuschagne and the inclusion of Scott Boland to replace Cummins, the team's vulnerabilities would vanish.
"If Marnus is back in that side and batting at his best, Boland replaces Cummins — Boland’s record in Australia is absolutely second to none — all of a sudden, there are no chinks in the armour of this Australian side at all," Ponting stated. "It actually probably looks as good as an Australian team has looked over the last 15 years."
He went even further, asserting that Australia should start the series as favourites based on a head-to-head analysis of the players from both teams.
Praise for the English Challenge
While backing his countrymen, Ponting was also generous in his assessment of the English squad. He believes this touring party is far better equipped for Australian conditions than teams of the recent past, highlighting their settled nature and experience playing together.
"They’ve got a group of players that have been together for a long time now, which is what you’re always after coming into such a big series like this," he said, drawing a parallel to England's successful 2019 ODI World Cup campaign.
Ponting also singled out former captain Joe Root, who he says is in "career-best form" and well-placed to finally score a maiden Test century on Australian soil.
Despite Australia's dominant home record since 2010—having won all three series on home turf by an aggregate of 13-0—Ponting predicts a much more competitive and thrilling contest this summer. He likened the anticipation to the legendary 2005 Ashes series, promising an enthralling battle from the first ball.
"I can’t wait for that first hour in Perth," Ponting enthused. "It’s got that feel for me a bit like the start to 2005 — big build-up, both teams want to make a statement early in the series. Let’s see which one lands the first few punches in Perth."
