Tony Greig: England must attack Ricky Ponting
Former England Test captain Tony Greig says England must attack Australian captain Ricky Ponting if they are to have any chance of retaining the Ashes.
Greig says England need to be ruthless and attacking in every part of the game to blitz Australia during this series. He suggests it's the only way to put the Australian team on the back foot and get them
to stay there.
"If I was playing against him (Ponting) I'd be at his head, at his throat, with two fieldsmen back.
He's not quite the puller [the pull shot] he used to be, he was one of the best ever, but he's been hit a few times in the head and been out playing the pull shot," Greig said,
according to Sky Sports.
Greig says that the England attack shouldn't have a problem trying to attack an important Australian physically with the cricket ball.
He points out that Ponting is not getting any younger, his reactions are slower and that if they get on top of him it will give the whole side a psychological edge.
"When you don't start to hit them or see them as well as
you used to (there are doubts). If Ricky gets nailed a few times and gets out to the hook shot, it will lift the Englishmen no end.
If I was England, particularly at the Gabba, I would have two back straight away at the boundary and I'd be right at him," added Greig.
However, it is naive of England to think that Ponting and Australia will not be expecting this sort of treatment. It is a dangerous tactic
because bowling short and trying to hurt a batsman can often result in a lot of runs being given away.
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor points this out and says if this is England's main plan to get Ponting out then it could go very
wrong.
"He's
been out to the hook a few times over the last year and a half so it might work, but that's the sort of tactic that could also backfire.
If Ricky starts playing the hook shot and finds the middle of the bat he can score pretty quickly," said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915.
However, Taylor does agree that England needs to get an edge over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 one way or another early during the Ashes series. England has
never had a better chance of winning in Australia and is yet to lose on tour.
England fans have been used to poor preparations in the build up to Ashes contests in Australia. However, England is looking confident,
well drilled and in form.
"He's
a pivotal man for Australia and if he has a good series I'm sure the Australian side will just follow him. If they can upset
Ricky and he doesn't bat as well as he would like to bat, it'll go a long way for England to winning the series," added Taylor.
Betting advice
Ponting will be one of the sure fire bets to do well during the Ashes for Australia. There is no doubt that he is capable of scoring a
century in any game and adding to the 39 Test hundreds he has already scored. Unless he is rattled by England early, back him to be top run scorer during the series.
Watch how he and Australia play during the first Test next week. It will be interesting to see who takes the game to the opposition on
the first day in Brisbane. This will be the best indication of the side that is most up for winning the Ashes.
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