Ricky Ponting promises chin music for England in Perth Test

Australian fast bowler Ricky Ponting is planning a bouncer barrage at England on the fast WACA wicket to keep his team’s Ashes hopes alive.

Ponting said that he has studied footage of England’s capitulation against the pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel when South Africa thrashed them in Johannesburg last January.

The 35-year-old said that he would order his bowlers to produce something similar during the crucial third Test, starting in Perth on Thursday. 

“When it is at its fastest and bounciest, this wicket is so much different to anywhere else in the world. Probably the only other wicket like it is the Wanderers,” the Daily Mail quoted Ponting, as saying.

“Interestingly enough, I’ve had a look at some of the footage from the game with England there last year with the use of the short ball more than anything Morkel and Steyn used it well.”

“You have to target areas where you can make inroads into the opposition side and we’ll certainly do that this week,” he added.

Ponting also backs ‘out-of-form’ fast bowler Mitchell Johnson to rediscover his match winning ability to answer his critics. 

“England should be wary of Johnson. You only need to look at his record - I think he’s got 160-odd wickets in not a lot of games - so he’s obviously got something going for him,” Ponting said.

“When he’s at his best he’s a wicket-taking bowler and can be pretty handy with the bat. He’s that type of dynamic cricketer that most teams are looking for in their side, when he’s at his best. We need him at his very best,” he added.