How Important is a Strong Top Order for England’s Ashes Hopes?

London, Aug 9 (NationPress) Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting asserts that England's success in this year's crucial Ashes series will heavily rely on their top-order batsmen delivering a robust start. After recently concluding a 2-2 series draw against India, England is set to commence the first Test of the Ashes on November 21 in Perth.

“As an Aussie, I take great pleasure in observing England's gameplay. The Australians appreciated it and adapted during their last visit. They now possess a better understanding of the refined style that England has developed over the past few years,” Ponting mentioned in a quote reported by The Times on Saturday.

“I believe they can adopt an aggressive batting style in Australia, and they will certainly attempt to do so. It aligns with their natural approach and the expectations of their coaches and captain. This strategy is essential for England as it places immediate pressure on the bowlers,” he elaborated.

“The fielding side must quickly adapt. England's ability to bat effectively at the top will be crucial in Australia. If they set the stage well, they will enhance their chances in the series,” he added.

Ponting also noted that England has recently demonstrated an ability to adjust their ultra-attacking Bazball strategy to avoid predictability. “Initially, it seemed Joe (Root) got a bit overwhelmed and altered his game. He has since reverted to a more traditional approach.”

“Ollie Pope is naturally aggressive and scores swiftly. While Stokes may have the lowest strike rate of all the batters, (Ben) Duckett and (Zak) Crawley are leading the charge. This evolution has been necessary against top-tier teams,” he stated.

Ponting further expressed uncertainty regarding the pitch conditions that will be prepared for England in the upcoming Ashes. “It will be intriguing to see how we prepare our pitches. I doubt the Australians will communicate with the groundsmen. Throughout my career, I never spoke to them, nor did my coaches,” he remarked.

“They always anticipated a well-prepared pitch. I am unsure of England's preferences. They likely perform best on flatter pitches suited to their batting, but in Australia, they may require some assistance for their bowlers,” he added.

Ponting concluded by hoping England fields a strong fast bowling attack for the five-match series in Australia. “England is hoping Archer and Wood will be fit. If they are, they will likely feature prominently in Perth and Brisbane, and then try to manage their participation throughout the series.”

“Archer brings significant value to their lineup with his extra pace, which elevates team morale. He has performed well against Australia in the past, and so has Wood. If both are fit, the bowling attack appears formidable. Gus Atkinson has shown promise and should perform decently in Australia.”