Ashes 2023: Australia should give David Warner another opportunity, says Ricky Ponting

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels the team should give another opportunity to under-fire David Warner in the fourth Ashes Test match against England. Warner has failed to deliver in the ongoing Ashes and England’s veteran pacer Stuart Broad has had his number.

Apart from scoring 66 in the first innings of the Lord’s Test, Warner has failed to make a substantial contribution to the team while opening the innings with Usman Khawaja.

David Warner could only return with scores of 1 and 4 in the third Test match and England veteran pacer Stuart Broad continued his domination against the Australian opener, dismissing him for the 17th time in Test cricket in the second innings.

“When someone’s got you out 17 times, it does become as much a mental or probably more of a mental battle than it does a technical battle. But just thinking about the series, I’d be inclined to stick with David Warner,” said Ponting said on ICC review.

Ponting reckons the lack of tour games before the Ashes haven’t helped Australia as the likes of Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw have not played consistently.

“With the lack of tour games for Australia, it doesn’t just hinder the guys that are out of form, but it actually hinders the other guys that are trying to push for a place into the side. If you’re going into the fourth Test match of an Ashes, with the Ashes on the line, do you bring a Marcus Harris or a Matt Renshaw in that simply haven’t played a game of cricket. I don’t know how long since they’ve played a first-class game,” Ponting added.

The two-time World Cup-winning captain wants Australia to back David Warner for the fourth Test match.

“Even if you did make the change, you’d be making a pretty courageous call to bring someone in that hasn’t been in the line-up. Right now I’m probably more inclined to give David another opportunity and hope that he can get through Stuart Broad and go on and make a big score,” said Ponting.

Warner has amassed 141 runs in three Test matches at an average of 23.50 in the ongoing Ashes against England. Broad has consistently troubled him from the around-the-wicket angle and it has been difficult going for the veteran left-hander.

The fourth Ashes Test will be played at Old Trafford from 19th July onwards.