"Will stick with 3-1": Ricky Ponting Predicts Australia’s Dominance in BGT 2024-25

06 NOV

???? Ponting's Confidence After Recent Developments

Ponting's prediction remains firm despite recent challenges for India, including:

1. A series defeat to New Zealand, their first loss at home in 12 years.
2. The absence of key pacer Mohammed Shami due to injury for the upcoming series.

Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, Ponting emphasized that Shami's absence is a significant blow to India’s chances, particularly when trying to secure 20 wickets in a Test match.

???? Ponting’s Take on Shami’s Impact

"Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group. Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge."

Although he believes India could win a Test at some point during the five-match series, Ponting maintains that Australia’s experience and home advantage give them the edge.

"I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches. But I still think now, Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home."

???? Top Run-Scorer Predictions: Smith or Pant?

When questioned about potential top performers for the series, Ponting identified two leading candidates:

1. Steve Smith: Ponting believes Smith’s move back from opening to his preferred No. 4 position will give him the best chance to dominate with the bat.
2. Rishabh Pant: The explosive Indian wicketkeeper, returning from injury, is also expected to be a serious contender for the leading run-scorer.

????️ Ponting's Assessment:

"The fact that Smith has moved back down from opener to No. 4 probably makes it feel like he's got more of a point to prove... that No. 4 is his spot and where he should have probably been the whole time."

He added that Pant could capitalize on batting at a time when the ball will have lost its initial shine, improving his scoring opportunities.

???? Leading Wicket-Taker Prediction: Josh Hazlewood

Ponting pointed out Josh Hazlewood as the most likely candidate to emerge as the leading wicket-taker of the series.

???? Reasons Behind Hazlewood's Edge:

• Consistency: Ponting believes Hazlewood is at the peak of his career.
• Availability: Unlike Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who may miss games throughout the series, Hazlewood is expected to feature consistently.

"Hazlewood out of the Australian quicks, is right at the moment, is probably at the peak of his powers more than the other guys."

???? First Test Scheduled for November 22

The first match of the five-match series kicks off November 22, and the series holds crucial significance for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Both India and Australia are currently at the top of the points table, and this series could solidify their journey to the WTC Final.

???? Key Takeaways from Ponting’s Prediction

1. Series Result: Australia will win the series 3-1, according to Ponting.
2. Shami’s absence is pivotal, leaving India at a disadvantage for securing 20 key wickets.
3. Top Batting Contenders: Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant are the frontrunners for the leading run scorer in the series.
4. Leading Bowler: Josh Hazlewood is expected to top the wickets tally due to his form and reliability.

With these predictions in mind, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be another enthralling battle between two cricketing giants.