Former Australian captain and cricket icon Ricky Ponting has named Josh Hazlewood as the standout bowler for the highly anticipated Test series between India and Australia.
Overlooking Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and even India’s pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, Ponting predicted that Josh Hazlewood will emerge as the top wicket-taker in the upcoming Test series.
Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional form and his consistency in recent Test matches inspired Ricky Ponting to pick the Australian pacer as the leading wicket-taker in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India, starting on November 22 in Perth.
Ricky Ponting backs Josh Hazlewood as top wicket-taker in the blockbuster India-Australia Test series
With Australia set to rotate their bowling attack due to the demanding schedule, Ponting has reckoned that Josh Hazlewood will play a key role throughout the high-voltage five-match Test series against the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team.
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Hazlewood’s solid form and adaptability make him a reliable figure on both spin-friendly and seamer-friendly tracks, making him Ponting’s standout pick to lead the wickets tally in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India at home.
Hazlewood has already established himself as the Australian bowler with the most wickets in the current WTC cycle, highlighting his capability to consistently trouble and dismantle batting line-ups. With 51 wickets so far in the 2023-25 WTC cycle, Hazlewood’s effectiveness has set the stage for what could be a record-breaking series performance.
I’ll go with him for the leading wicket-taker: Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review: “I think Hazlewood, out of the Australian quicks, is right at the moment and is probably at the peak of his powers more than the other guys. So I’ll go with him for the leading wicket-taker.”
Apart from the bowling department, Ponting hinted at a fascinating battle for runs. He predicted that either Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant or Australia’s batting maestro Steve Smith would emerge as the leading run-scorer in the upcoming Test series.
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As Steve Smith sets to return to his favored No. 4 position, Ponting backs the former captain to lead the Aussie batting line-up from the front against India. After an experimental stint at the top order, Smith’s move back to his preferred slot is expected to allow him greater stability, where his tactical prowess and shot selection can flourish in the upcoming Test series.
Ponting predicts Rishabh Pant or Steve Smith can emerge as the leading run scorer in BGT 2024-25
The Australian cricket icon further noted, “I think Smith, the fact that he’s moved back down from opener to No. 4 probably makes it feel like he’s got more of a point to prove… that maybe he shouldn’t have gone up to open in the first place and that No. 4 is his spot and where he should have probably been the whole time and where he probably finished his career now.”
Ponting signed off by saying, “And with Rishabh back in the side and probably coming into bat in the middle order when the ball’s probably lost a bit of its shine and a bit of its hardness and the form that he’s in, I’ll go for him as one of the leading run scorers as well.”