Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has put his weight behind David Warner to score big in the second innings of the first Ashes Test against England. Warner was dismissed after scoring nine runs in the first essay and he will be looking to deliver the goods. The southpaw was dismissed for the 15th time in Test cricket by Stuart Broad, who continued his domination against the Australian opener.
In fact, the left-hander scored 43 runs off just 60 balls in the first innings of WTC final at an impressive strike rate of 71.67 but he was dismissed for a solitary run in the second essay against India.
Warner has all the experience under his belt and he will look to deliver the goods at the top of the order along with Usman Khawaja.
“I thought he looked really good in the first innings of the WTC Final; the 40-odd he made there, he played really well. And even though he made nine in the first innings here, the way he actually started his innings was the best I’ve seen him start in two years of Test cricket. So it’s still there,” Ponting said while speaking after the close of play on Day 3.
At stumps on Day three, England were 28-2 and they were leading by 35 runs. Warner is going to hold the key in the second innings and he will be looking to give a good start with Usman Khawaja, who scored a fine knock of 141 runs in the first dig.
Ponting feels it will be a crucial knock for David Warner as his career depends on the same.
“I think the fact that he wasn’t able to score as freely as he would’ve wanted at the start of that innings played a part in him playing the shot that he did. But there’s no doubt the second innings is an important one for him – not just for his career’s sake, but it’s going to be a big innings as far as this game and this series goes. If he starts the same way that he started in the first innings, then I think he will make some runs,” Ponting added.
England are expected to take the match on with their new revamped approach and it will be interesting to note what the last two days have in store for us.
