Ashes 2023: England will struggle in the bowling department on flat pitches, says Ricky Ponting

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels England could struggle in the bowling department on flat pitches. It has been noticed that pitches in England have got better for batting and the home bowlers could have their work cut out against Australia in the Ashes.

Ponting believes it will be difficult for England bowlers to take 20 Australian wickets on flat wickets. England batters have adopted an aggressive batting approach in the last 12 months under Brendon McCullum but it will be crucial for their bowlers to deliver the goods.

“If England wants to play the style that they’ve been playing, I actually think they probably need to have some flattish-type wickets. I’ve heard that they want flat wickets, I’ve heard they want the boundaries brought in. But I think if they do have these flatter wickets, I’d be worried about how they’re going to get 20 Australian wickets a game,” Ponting told the Times.

In fact, England will be without the services of gun fast bowler Jofra Archer and lead spinner Jack Leach. In the absence of Leach, Moeen Ali, who has made a return to Test cricket after his retirement, has been added to the final XI of the first Ashes Test.

“With Jofra Archer not being there, without their number one spinner (Leach) being there, if they’re flat, will Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson be able to have a huge impact on the series?” Ponting said.

Ponting feels England is going to bat well against Australia but they might struggle with the ball and it could make a difference. On the other hand, Australia has a relentless fast bowling line-up in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and in-form Scott Boland.

“The records of some of our top-order batters are not as good here in the UK, but the bowling numbers are all pretty good. I think England are going to bat really well. I think they’re going to struggle with the ball, and I think if you look at Australia’s attack, Australia’s bowling probably right now has fewer holes in it than what the batting has,” Ponting added.

The first Ashes Test will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from June 16 onwards.