Australia secured a spot within the WTC remaining at The Oval in June after amassing the required share factors following their nine-wicket win towards India within the third Border-Gavaskar Take a look at at Indore final week.
Australia included Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb — two supposedly good gamers of spin — in addition to a clutch of spinners, together with Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy collection.
Ponting feels that with the English situations not anticipated to be conducive to spinners, the selectors may go for rookie pacers Lance Morris and Aaron Hardie for the two-month tour of England.
“Lance Morris is a part of that (India) squad and perhaps somebody like Aaron Hardie (may very well be a shock inclusion). I really threw his (Hardie) identify up when Cameron Inexperienced was going to overlook that final Take a look at (towards South Africa resulting from finger damage) in Sydney,” Ponting informed ICC Overview on Wednesday.
“I threw Aaron Hardie’s identify up as an all-rounder, an identical kind of participant to Inexperienced, not as fast with the ball, however an excellent batsman who made a superb 100 within the (home) Sheffield Defend remaining final 12 months.”
The legend felt that if all-rounder Mitchell Marsh returns to full health, he may get the nod forward of Hardie.
“However his (Hardie) choice would possibly depend upon somebody like Mitchell Marsh, if he is again to full health, then he is most likely going to search out his approach on the airplane to England as a back-up all-rounder for Cameron Inexperienced as effectively.”
On whether or not Renshaw and Handscomb, two probably good gamers of spin bowling, shall be within the England-bound squad, Ponting mentioned, “Matt Renshaw was picked on this (India) tour as a result of everybody felt he was an excellent participant of spin. Peter Handscomb was picked on this tour to India as a result of he is an excellent participant of spin bowling.
“I feel you’ve got seen that via this collection at totally different occasions. However when you consider the totally different set of situations within the UK, then I would not be stunned if perhaps neither of these guys are on that tour.
“I feel there is a good probability that Renshaw shall be on that tour, however I am not so certain about Handscomb and if he’ll make it to England or not.”
Ponting, who performed 168 Checks and 275 ODIs, additionally felt left-hand opening batter Marcus Harris may get a look-in for the English summer time task.
“Somebody like Marcus Harris would possibly even get one other alternative again into that Ashes squad. He was a part of the squads via the Australian summer time with out really taking part in.”
On the continuing Take a look at collection towards India, Ponting mentioned his nation’s gamers will take dwelling a number of positives. Australia at present path 1-2 within the collection however the former skipper mentioned the group confirmed loads of spirit in profitable the third Take a look at in Indore.
“I feel all of the spinners (have carried out effectively) … and I feel at totally different occasions, a lot of the batters have really proven that they’ll cope and survive in these situations.
“The quicks have not had an opportunity to bowl and Australia have had the blokes coming out and in as effectively. However I feel, Usman (Khawaja), Travis (Head), (Marnus) Labuschagne, (Steve) Smith after which all the spinners which have performed, I feel there are some actual positives there.
“It is only a little bit of a disgrace that it is taken Australia to the beginning of the third Take a look at match to search out the fitting model of play.”
Australia will play the fourth and remaining Take a look at in Ahmedabad beginning Thursday.
(With PTI inputs)
