Ashes 2021-22: Ricky Ponting Decodes Joe Root’s Dismissal In MCG Test

England skipper Joe Root continues to shoulder the batting responsibilities of his team in the ongoing Ashes series. Root has scored 225 runs from three innings so far in this series with three fifty-plus scores. The side was bowled out for 185 in their first innings, the 12th instance when they were bowled out below 200 in 2021.

Analysing Root’s dismissal on cricket.com.au, Ponting reckoned that the English skipper’s dismissal was quite similar to the ones he has had in the series thus far. The former cricketer-turned pundit noted that the extra bounce on Australian surfaces has led to Root’s undoing in this series.

For the 12th time in 15 Tests in 2021, England are bowled out for less than 200.

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“Joe Root’s wicket was very similar to some of his other dismissals in this series. We talked about how he can probably get away with playing shots like that in England where there’s not as much bounce, but with the extra bounce they’ve had in Brisbane, Adelaide and here at the MCG day one, you just can’t be wafting and pushing the bat at balls a long way away from your body off front or back foot,” said Ponting.

Ponting further spoke about Ben Stokes’ performance in the series so far. the England all-rounder has scored 90 so far in three innings. The former Aussie skipper said that Stokes has been ultra-defensive so far in the series.

Ben Stokes Played A Strange Shot: Ricky Ponting

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“Stokes’ (wicket) seemed like a really strange shot. I think he was scared of the field placement to be honest,” said Ponting. ”They had a deep backward square in place and a short ball at the body that, instead of playing a pull shot which is an instinctive shot for him, he tried to go the other way and ramp one up over the slips cordon, which he’d tried four or five overs earlier and played and missed.” he said.

“He has looked ultra-defensive. Stokes hasn’t looked like the big, physically aggressive presence at the crease that opposition teams have feared to bowl to in other series. You can understand why – the batting conditions haven’t been easy in any game, and he’s coming up against some good bowlers. But I think if you just sit back and wait, and don’t put pressure on great bowlers, they’re going to get you out,” Ponting concluded saying.