Former captain Ricky Ponting has warned Australia’s top-order batsmen must step up their game and deliver ‘big runs’ after their first ODI defeat to England on Wednesday.
The Aussies struggled against England’s slower bowlers and were all out for just 214 runs after being made to bat in their three-wicket defeat. England’s spin duo of Moeen Ali and Rashid Khan accounted for five of the seven top-order batsmen.
It took a 84-run stand between Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar to help the Aussies reach a respectable total after the damage done by England’s spinners earlier on. Ponting, who became a late addition to the coaching staff of Langer for the limited-overs matches against England, stated that the top-order needed to stand up and take more of the responsibility.
“It highlighted again the importance of our top-order batsman taking responsibility and getting some big runs,” said Ponting.
Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh had put on a 40-run partnership for the second wicket after Travis Head fell early but both the batsmen then fell in quick succession to Moeen’s off-spin.
“We lost an early wicket but I thought Marsh and Finch’s partnership looked really promising. But both of them getting out in successive overs to Moeen Ali, and all of a sudden we are behind the eight ball,” Ponting explained.
Australia struggled against the off-spin of Moeen Ali.
“It’s just little moments like that were someone just has to put their hand up and say ‘Right, I am going to be the man that’s going to get through here and do what my team needs me to do’ and it didn’t happen,” he added.
“These players need to be hard on themselves and work out how they can improve on a daily basis.”
The highly successful former Australia skipper remains confident that the team can bounce back strongly when they take on England in the second ODI at Cardiff on Saturday.
“It didn’t happen (Wednesday) but there is certainly enough skill and talent there to push on and win some games through the remainder of this series,” he said.
“Being on a tour in England you get four hours on the bus with the boys and I will be able to sit down with the young blokes and talk cricket.
“I love doing it.”
