Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting has savaged England all-rounder Will Jacks after his ugly dismissal on day four of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney. Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten century (142no) – his first in Test cricket – helped England take a 119-run lead after they reached 8-302 at stumps. But an injury to captain Ben Stokes dealt a fresh blow to the tourists and their hopes of salvaging a result at the SCG.
Bethell was sensational for the visitors but apart from opener Ben Duckett (42) and Harry Brook (42), the England No.3 had precious little support as Beau Webster (3-51) and Scott Boland (2-34) led the way for Australia’s bowling attack. Webster turned to off-spin on Wednesday and extracted some serious turn to remove the dangerous Brook as he looked to form a big partnership with Bethell.
Ricky Ponting (L) took aim at England’s batting after captain Ben Stokes (R) limped off with injury early on day four of the fifth Ashes Test. Pic: Getty
That brought Jacks to the crease but he lasted just two balls after giving away his wicket with a shot that Ponting described as “brainless” from the Englishman. Rather than try to settle into the crease and build an in innings with Bethell to give England the best chance at victory, Jacks was caught in the deep by Cameron Green after trying to slog Webster over the mid-wicket boundary.
“Will Jacks, how do you walk back into that dressing room?” Ponting said in commentary for Channel 7. “It’s a rank slog, second ball… This was just brainless, absolutely brainless.”
It continued an Ashes Test to forget for Jacks, who also gifted first innings centurion Travis Head a lifeline on 121 with an inexplicable dropped catch on the boundary. Head went on to make another 42 runs that could prove crucial in the final wash-up of the fifth Test.
Ben Stokes injury delivers fresh blow to England
England’s hopes of salvaging something from the series with a victory in the final Test also suffered another blow early in the day when Stokes limped off with a groin injury just 15 minutes in. Considering he’s bowled more than 100 overs this series, it was perhaps no surprise to see the skipper’s body finally succumb to the extraordinary workload.
England captain Ben Stokes walks from the ground with a groin injury during the first session on day four of the fifth Ashes Test. Pic: Getty
And it leaves England facing the grim reality of being without their influential captain on day five, when his bowling will be sorely needed to prevent the Aussies winning the series 4-1. Bethell revealed in his press conference after stumps on Wednesday that it wasn’t looking good for the skipper.
“He’s moving pretty gingerly,” Bethell said about Stokes. “When he was out in the middle, he just said he’ll be walking them. It’s not going to be one (run) unless it’s a long one. I don’t think that bodes too well for him bowling tomorrow.”