Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has opined that only three Australian batsmen have cemented their place in the Test squad for the Ashes later in the year.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has opined that only three Australian batsmen have cemented their place in the Test squad for the Ashes later in the year.
According to Ponting, only Usman Khawaja, Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne will be selected for the Ashes, which is scheduled to begin in August, while he also thinks that selectors must persist with Travis Head.
Speaking on Shaun Marsh, Ponting said that the Western Australia batsman must find a solution for his bad patch if he wants to play the Ashes after a terrible India home series where he has averaged 26.14.
Meanwhile, Ponting also added that the suspended batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith could make way into the Ashes squad if they are selected for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Opening batsman Harris is Australia's leading run-scorer in the ongoing four-Test series with 256 runs at 36.57, while Labuschagne looked impressed with his knock of 38 on Day three when the other batsmen succumbed to the Indian attack.
After Harris, the other two most prolific batsmen for Australia are Head (237 at 33.85) and Khawaja (194 at 27.71) this summer which has seen the home side fail to register a single century against India's exceptional bowling attack.
"Harris is (a lock), I've been really impressed with the way he's played," Ponting told cricket.com.au
Khawaja is a lock to go even though he hasn't had a great series so far. On the back of what I saw today I really liked what I got to see from Marnus. His technique looked good.
He plays in Brisbane so he handles the swinging ball well which you sort of expect over in England so I'd pick him on the back of what I've seen today. Travis Head, our second leading run-scorer in this series but once again just lots of starts without going on. I think they'll probably stick with him. You've got to put some question marks over the others," he added.
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