On the latest episode of The ICC Review, legendary Ricky Ponting backed Arshdeep Singh’s character, work ethic, and technical strengths that he felt would make the young pacer a valuable asset for India on the important tour starting in June.
“I’ve had a good chance to get to know him really well. He’s a great character to have around the team,” Ricky Ponting said of Arshdeep. “He’s a fun-loving guy. He’s very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like. As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody. I think it’s well deserved. I think he’ll bowl well in England as well.”
Having been a mainstay in India’s T20I setup with 99 wickets across just 63 games, the left-arm seamer’s maiden Test call-up also comes on the back of his exploits in red-ball domestic cricket as well, with 66 wickets coming across 21 first-class matches.
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“I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He’s very skillful,” Ponting noted. “I think the Dukes ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don’t do it then it’ll be a bit of a surprise to me.”
However, Ponting further said that the young pacer’s previous county experience will help him to do well for India. During his County Championship spell with Kent last year, Arshdeep Singh picked up 13 wickets in five Division 1 games, with his best bowling figures being 3/58 as well.
“He’s played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well,” Ponting shared. “Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he’s going to get decent bounce…as we know in England the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. To have someone that’s got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour.”
Arshdeep Singh has been in sublime form during the IPL this season, claiming 18 wickets in the league phase to help Punjab reach the top of the points table. However, Punjab will play against RCB in Qualifier 1 of the tournament as well.
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“The three keywords that I brought this year were being different, being daring and dynamic,” Ricky Ponting shared. “That’s not just the playing group, that’s through the whole organisation. The inclusion thing for me is always a big one. We’ve got not just about 25 players here. We’ve got over 100 people that are hopefully all on the same journey together. We’re heading in the same direction and me making them feel a part of the journey is a bit of the reason why we’re all here.”
“It’s just the end of the qualifying rounds and the big stuff is yet to come, but so far cricket’s been very, very good. It’s been a fun time to be around the team. And I’m looking forward to what the next few weeks brings,” Ricky Ponting concluded.
