Ricky Ponting makes U-turn as ex-captain delivers recent verdict on Australian cricket’s huge dilemma

Ricky Ponting has doubled again on his views over how Pat Cummins may help settle Australia’s top-order choice dilemma.

With there being lower than a month till Australia face India within the first take a look at of the summer time on the Optus Stadium, questions are mounting over who will open the batting for the Saggy Greens.

A four-way shoot-out seems to have emerged between Nathan McSweeney, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and rising star Sam Konstas.

McSweeney seems to have stepped forward of the remaining, having dazzled this week for Australia A, after hitting an unbeaten 88 off 178 balls in Australia’s seven-wicket victory over India A this weekend.

Konstas and Bancroft each have been dismissed for geese in the course of the take a look at, with Harris hitting 17 and 36 in his two innings.

Ponting had beforehand backed Konstas to struggle his approach into the facet scoring 152 and 105 throughout New South Wales’ Sheffield Protect Conflict in opposition to South Australia in the beginning of October.

However after the weekend, Ponting has made a U-turn on his earlier claims, showing to again McSweeney as a substitute.

‘I used to be placed on the spot a couple of week in the past, and I type of instantly went to the younger man Sam Konstas. He had come off back-to-back a whole lot in opposition to South Australia,’ the previous Australia captain instructed the ICC Evaluate present.

‘Then I assumed a bit extra about it and, he’s so younger and he has most likely not even performed on grounds like Optus Stadium or on the Gabba.

‘He wouldn’t have performed a pink-ball (match) at Adelaide Oval both. So there’s loads of issues that stack up in opposition to the younger man, though there’s little question that he’s received expertise.’

Ponting had claimed younger star Sam Konstas (pictured) was the entrance runner to accomplice up with Usman Khawaja

‘I don’t assume they’d return to a Bancroft or Harris as a result of in the event that they’re prepared to do this they’d’ve finished it the final 12 months,” Ponting stated.

With McSweeney’s top off, Ponting is now favouring the Queenslander to tackle the mantle as Australia’s opener for the summer time sequence.

But, the 25-year-old has restricted expertise beginning on the very prime of the order, usually preferring to bat at both No 3 or No 4.

‘So, the one identify left for me kind of is Nathan McSweeney, who’s Queensland-born and is now taking part in for South Australia. He received probably the most out of any of these guys from the ‘A’ sport in Australia for the time being,’ Ponting added.

‘And he’s extra skilled. He has captained Australia A up to now, and he’s captaining them now. So, I’m leaning in the direction of McSweeney now for that opening function firstly of the Australian summer time.’

However Konstas, in Ponting’s eyes hasn’t fallen out of the fold simply but.

The ex-Aussie captain believes that Konstas wanted one other 12 months of Protect cricket earlier than he can absolutely stamp a declare on a spot in Pat Cummins’ facet.

‘(Konstas) is likely to be prepared to return in on the prime of the order then,” Ponting stated, including extra time within the Protect can solely be a very good factor.

However Ponting now believes Nathan McSweeney is within the body to open for Australia following his strong efficiency in opposition to India over the weekend

‘He’s not the one one that has points with the ball coming again in and the extra publicity he will get to that kind of bowling, the higher off he’s going to be.

‘Which type of backs up my level on [picking] McSweeney.

‘Possibly [Konstas] wants 12 months of Protect cricket to face higher bowling and play in numerous situations and put a stamp on what his approach seems to be like for worldwide cricket.

‘He’s a extremely gifted participant, and I’m certain he’ll get his likelihood to play for Australia.’