The Ashes | Australia legend baffled with England’s approach to Test cricket

Ashes winning captain Ricky Ponting has been baffled with England’s approach to Test cricket in the ongoing 5-match series.

"All their planning, their thoughts and their structures have just been completely wrong, and it's come back to bite them," said an irritated Ponting after the end of the third Test match in the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. He was referring to England’s choice of playing XI in the first Test match, where both James Anderson and Stuart Broad were benched despite being fit. 

While it was speculated by the English media that the two veterans are being kept fresh for the pink ball Test match in Adelaide, Ponting argued that at any point in time, a team should not begin a Test match without their best players.

"Pick your best team from the start and then see how far that group can take you. The fact that Anderson and Broad didn't play in Brisbane is staggering."

He also called out Joe Root’s decision to bat first in overcast conditions at The Gabba. "The fact that Joe Root didn't bowl first in Brisbane was staggering. The fact that Mark Wood didn't play in Adelaide was staggering. He looked like one of the most likely bowlers up in Brisbane."

"All their planning, their thoughts and their structures have just been completely wrong, and it's come back to bite them," Ponting said.

Ponting has not been a fan of Root’s captaincy for a while and had found his choices of words amusing after the England captain blamed his bowlers for the loss at Adelaide.