Ricky Ponting has questioned Australian selectors over a number of baffling calls during the Ashes series and raised concerns over the future of opener Jake Weatherald at Test level. The former Australia captain says the 4-1 Ashes series win over England failed to paper over several issues for Australia, and he can’t understand why all-rounder Beau Webster was overlooked for the first four Tests.
The Aussie cricket legend has also questioned whether fellow all-rounder Cam Green has done enough to justify the faith of selectors. But his most telling critique is around Weatherald’s batting, with Ponting casting doubts over whether the opener’s current technique will see him survive at Test level.
Ricky Ponting (L) has questioned a number of Australia’s Ashes selections and cast doubts over opener Jake Weatherald’s (bottom R) Test future. Pic: Getty
Weatherald showed flashes of brilliance in his maiden Test series for Australia during the Ashes, with a 72 in Brisbane the pick of his innings. His combination with Travis Head at the top of the order looked solid at times, but he only managed 201 runs across the five Tests at 22.33.
Many of Weatherald’s dismissals came in similar fashion as England exposed a weakness to balls coming across the stumps and trapped him in front. And Ponting suggested a flawed technique could spell trouble for Weatherald’s long-term Test prospects.
“For mine his stance and technical issues, he is not going to survive doing what he’s doing now at the highest level,” Ponting told SEN radio. “In that series he struggled with full straight ball and with the more direct short ball. You don’t survive at Test level with this.
“This is all to do with stance, it’s way too wide… If I was a selector, I would say to him: ‘we love what you bring but you have four Shield games to prove you can change stance and technique. If you can do that we will give you another go. If you can’t… then it might be time to move on’.”
Jake Weatherald’s Test future has come into question after England exposed technical flaws in his batting during the Ashes series. Pic: Getty
(SAEED KHAN via Getty Images)Ricky Ponting says Beau Webster has cemented his Test spot
Ponting reckons selectors should look to get young batters Campbell Kellaway and Ollie Peake into the Test squad as soon as possible, with a view to the 2027 Ashes series in England. And he believes Webster showed enough with the bat and ball in Sydney to cement his spot.
Webster was surprisingly overlooked for the first four Tests but earned a recall at the SCG and hit a crucial unbeaten 71 in the first innings. He also picked up three vital wickets bowling off-spin, and Ponting is adamant Webster should have featured more.
“I was surprised they went with (Josh) Inglis ahead of Beau,” Ponting told SEN Tassie. “I can’t figure out how they did that to be honest. I was surprised but every time I see Beau play he just continues to put forward a case as to why he should be in the side.
“Now we know an opportunity has come up at No. 5 with Usman Khawaja not there. I can’t see any world in which Travis Head doesn’t continue as opener, so maybe it’s Beau’s chance to grab that No 5 spot… It will be hard to leave him out going forward.”