[WATCH] Ricky Ponting's Witty Retort Silences Kevin Pietersen's Acclaim for Joe Root's Attacking Knock
Root followed his century in the 1st innings by a quickfire 46 (Twitter)
Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, renowned for his fierce encounters with the England team during his illustrious career, once again demonstrated his ability to deliver sharp comebacks against the arch-rivals.
Ponting's sharp response deflates Pietersen's praise for Root
On the fourth day of the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston, Ponting engaged in a verbal exchange with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, effectively shutting down Pietersen's over the top admiration for Joe Root's knock in the second inning.
While speaking to Sky Sports during the lunch break on the penultimate day of the Ashes opener, Pietersen couldn't contain his praise for Root's performance in the second innings.
"Joe Root, and how he just owned the game. He ran the game; he was pure quality, and he just owned that space. And just had it all... and all of these blokes were just scratching their heads, going, 'What do we do?" said Pietersen.
In response, Ponting delivered a succinct yet biting retort, undermining Pietersen's praise.
With a touch of sarcasm, he swiftly shut down the former cricketer by stating, "Yeah well he's out now - he got 40."
Meanwhile, Root had showcased his attacking batting display in the second innings, unleashing audacious shots, including his signature ramp shot off the pacers. However, his aggressive approach came to an end when he attempted to hit Nathan Lyon for a six but was stumped as the ball spun past his bat. The former England captain scored 46 runs off 55 balls before being dismissed
Subsequently, England's innings concluded at 273 runs in 66.2 overs, setting Australia a target of 281 for victory. In response, Australia concluded the day's play at a score of 107/3, setting the stage for an enthralling Day 5 of the Test match. The visitors require another 174 runs to secure a victory, while the hosts are eagerly seeking to capture the remaining seven wickets on the final day.
To everyone’s displeasure, the much-anticipated fifth day didn't commence as planned, as inclement weather intervened during the first session, forcing the umpires to call for an early lunch. Although rain played spoilsport on Day 5, fans will anxiously await the resumption of play, hoping for a thrilling to this game of monumental proportions.
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