Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has warned the Aussie aspect to be ready for a significant tactical change in England’s batting order for the Manchester Take a look at scheduled to get underway from July 19. Notably, England confirmed nice resistance and pulled off an in depth win towards the guests within the earlier Take a look at match at Headingley, halting the customer’s profitable run within the Ashes 2023.

The sensational efficiency from the English aspect got here after going through back-to-back losses within the first two video games. Though it was a collective effort of the hosts that helped them keep alive within the five-match collection, Mark Wooden and Harry Brook performed a significant position of their group’s victory. Wooden bagged seven total wickets throughout two innings, whereas Brook top-scored with a superb 75 runs within the fourth innings for England.

The third Take a look at not simply marked an epic comeback for the English aspect but additionally introduced up many positives for them. Nevertheless, it additionally highlighted an issue within the Three Lions’ batting order of not discovering an appropriate no. 3 regardless of selling Brook and Moeen Ali up the order. Veteran Aussie cricketer Ponting has now predicted a daring change in England’s batting order and in addition named the batter which may bat on the third place for the hosts within the Manchester Take a look at.

Talking on the ICC Evaluation present, Ponting began by saying that England would look to go along with the profitable group and never go for any change. He additional reckoned that Ben Stokes is probably the most appropriate for the no. 3 batting place, and England would possibly ship him up the order.

“I truly thought that Ben Stokes may need batted himself at quantity three at Headingley after I realised that Pope was out and Moeen and Woakes got here again in. To me he’s received the approach to outlive on the high and Moeen hasn’t. We noticed that within the second innings. I’m unsure if Harry Brook is ever going to be a top-order Take a look at match batsman. I believe he’s all the time going to be a 4, 5 or 6 sort batter with the best way that he performs,” stated Ponting.

“I assumed the chance was there for Ben as a result of lots of the time with Stokes and, that is no knock on him in any way as he’s a terrific participant, however lots of the time he’s received to return in and play a Mr Repair-It position when it’s virtually like a injury management kind of position the place I’ve all the time felt that if he batted at No.3 then he may kind of cease a few of that injury with the approach that he’s received,” he added.

The 48-year-old even cautioned Australia to be prepared for the change and said: “And the truth that he’s in all probability not going to bowl in the event that they go in with the identical bowling assault, he’s in all probability not going to bowl within the Take a look at match, so it provides him an opportunity to be brisker to bat up the order. So that may be one thing that I’d be enthusiastic about if I used to be England and definitely one thing that Australia must be prepared for.”