Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has predicted that India will pick both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the World Test Championship final against Australia. The summit clash will be played at the Oval and the conditions are expected to be dry.
Ergo, the spinners could come into action as the match will progress. Jadeja and Ashwin have all the experience under their belt and the duo can also deliver with the bat.
Jadeja scalped 20 wickets in 16 matches in IPL 2023 for Chennai Super Kings and played a key role in taking the team to glory. On the other hand, Ashwin took 14 wickets in 13 matches for Rajasthan Royals.
Meanwhile, Ashwin had bagged 25 wickets in four Test matches against Australia earlier in the year while Jadeja had picked a total of 22 wickets but the English conditions will be different.
Jadeja also scored a fine hundred against England in the rescheduled Test match in 2022. Ponting stated that Jadeja’s batting has improved manifolds and India can play him as a pure batter.
Ricky Ponting said on ICC Review, “I actually think they will pick Jadeja and Ashwin. Jadeja can hold down that No.6 batting spot. His batting has improved that much that they can pick him as a batter that might just bowl a few overs if required.”
Ponting continued: “There is no doubt that Ashwin is a more skilled and better Test bowler than what Jadeja is. But if Jadeja can hold down that batting spot, and then as the game goes on getting into the fourth and fifth day, if it does start to turn, then you’ve got that really high class second spin bowling option. That’s certainly what I’d be doing.”
On the other hand, Nathan Lyon is going to hold the key for Australia. Ponting added the veteran off-spinner is rated very highly by the Indian sub-continent players because of his consistent performances. Lyon had snared 22 wickets in four Test matches against India in BGT 2022.
“I judge spin on what Indian subcontinental batsmen normally talk about when they talk about facing spin bowling. Everyone I’ve spoken to from India or Sri Lanka, and those sorts of places, rate Nathan Lyon really highly.”
The WTC final will be played at the Oval from June 7.
