Former Australian captain and cricket legend Ricky Ponting has chosen Josh Hazlewood as his pick for the leading wicket-taker in the upcoming five-match Test series between India and Australia. Ponting’s selection bypassed high-profile bowlers like Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and India’s Jasprit Bumrah. Ponting, Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs, explained his choice by noting that Hazlewood is at the peak of his career and is likely to play all five Tests, whereas Cummins and Mitchell Starc may not feature in every game.
“Among the Australian quicks, Hazlewood is in incredible form right now, perhaps at his absolute best. That’s why I think he’ll top the wicket-takers list,” Ricky Ponting remarked in the latest episode of The ICC Review.
Josh Hazlewood has proven his consistency, becoming one of only four Australian bowlers with over 100 wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC). In the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle, he leads the pack with 51 wickets, the highest among Australian players. Ponting also shared his thoughts on the leading run-scorer for the series, tipping either Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant to take that honour.
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Ricky Ponting sees Smith’s recent return to the No. 4 position as a prime opportunity for him to excel. “The move from opening back to No. 4 could give Smith a fresh point to prove. It might show that he’s meant for that spot, and he’ll likely settle into it as he finishes his career,” Ponting commented.
He also praised Rishabh Pant, noting that Pant’s spot in the middle order gives him an advantage. “With Pant coming in when the ball’s softened, and given his current form, I’d bet on him to be one of the series’ top scorers as well,” Ponting added.
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Pant showcased remarkable form in the recent series against New Zealand, ending as the leading run-scorer. His performance included twin fifties in the third Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and a near-century with 99 runs in the first innings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
With both teams relying on their key players, Ponting’s predictions add to the anticipation surrounding this highly competitive India-Australia series.
