'Make A Change': Ponting's Brutal Take On Aussie Star Opening The Batting In IND vs AUS Test Series

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024: Australia have had a tough time against India as far as the last four editions of Border-Gavaskar Trophies are concerned. There is a raging debate about Test cricket and its future, but it is series like these that revive the beauty of the format. The IND vs AUS Test series is one of the most sought after clashes of all time and it continues to deliver. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is also crucial in the context of the World Test Championship 2025

Ricky Ponting Dissects The Future Of Steve Smith The Opener

David Warner has been a stalwart, not just for Australian cricket, but even for the game overall. Earlier this year, the southpaw announced his retirement from international cricket after the Aussies were knocked out of the T20 World Cup. Warner had also expressed his interest of playing the Champions Trophy to be hosted by Pakistan next year, but it was turned down by chief selector David Bailey in a very polite way.

After Warner's retirement, Smith was bestowed with the responsibility of opening the batting for Australia. The Aussie batter and their former skipper has always played on the number 4 spot and there is a debate about his ideal batting position. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has now reiterated that it was upto Smith to decide if he wants to open the batting for Australia or not.

'Probably the only one question there might be with Australia again, is if Smith's the right man to be opening the batting. That would be the only query that I can see there. So I'll rephrase it, not whether Smith's the right man to open the batting but whether he thinks it's the right spot for him. Because I think if he doesn't think it's the right spot then they'll make a change', said Ricky on the ICC Review.

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Important WTC Points up for Grabs For India In The Border-Gavaskar Trophy

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Team India has played consecutive World test Championship finals (2021 and 2023), but they have always failed to cross the finishing line. India are comfortably placed on the top of the WTC standings, but the IND vs AUS Test series will also be crucial to their hopes of playing the third final. A loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will severely dent their hopes of qualifying for the finals of WTC 2025.