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As anticipation builds toward the Ashes 2025 series, former Australian captain and ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has stepped forward with his insights into Australia’s potential top-order lineup. Following Australia’s 3-0 series win over the West Indies, attention has shifted from the dominant bowling unit to the under-scrutiny batting order, which struggled to make a mark in challenging Caribbean conditions. Ponting, never one to mince words, offered both tactical clarity and heartfelt support for young opener Sam Konstas, a player who has sparked national debate after a tough start to his Test career.
Despite glaring batting issues, Australia enters the new World Test Championship cycle with promise, and pressure. Ponting’s experience and vision position him well to assess not just form, but the character needed to survive the rigours of an Ashes tour. His comments reflect both strategic foresight and empathy, especially for young players thrust into the deep end. Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, Ponting made a strong case for continuity, urging selectors to back potential with patience, particularly in the case of Konstas.
Ricky Ponting’s preferred Ashes top 3 and middle-order options against England
In a candid conversation, Ponting named the three batters he believes should open the 2025 Ashes series for Australia: Konstas, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green. His call, grounded in recent performances and player development, came despite Australia’s patchy top-order showing in the West Indies.
“The batters they’re talking about the last couple of weeks in particular have been Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja. And then there was some talk about Cameron Green, whether he’s a long-term No.3 or not,” Ponting explained.
Green, often in the spotlight for failing to convert starts, finally impressed Ponting with a defiant innings under duress. Ponting believes the current structure should be retained, not because it’s perfect, but because stability is essential when heading into the Ashes cauldron.
“Green’s second innings in the West Indies in the last Test might have just put some of that to bed. As tough as those conditions were, to bat for as long as he did, he might have silenced a few of those critics. I think with where they’re at, the Ashes lineup is going to be like it is right now. That’s what they’re going to be starting with, and you keep your fingers crossed and hope those guys can get the job done,” the former Australian captain added.
Ponting didn’t stop at the top order he also hinted at who might push for selection if performances don’t improve. Nathan McSweeney, who featured against India last year, has scored runs for Australia A against Sri Lanka. Matt Renshaw has impressed in white-ball games. Jason Sangha was also flagged as a talent to keep tabs on. He warned that the start of the Sheffield Shield season will be critical for fringe players, particularly with only a handful of matches before the Ashes.
“There’s not going to be many names outside the usual suspects. McSweeney is the obvious one to go back to. Sangha’s name might come up, but there aren’t many games left now to force your way in. The longer you go into the Ashes, the harder it becomes to make changes. Selectors need to get these calls right early,” the cricket-turned-commentator stated.
Australian player under fire but backed by Ponting
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Ponting’s interview was his defence of 20-year-old Konstas, whose Test record so far, 163 runs at 16.30 across 10 innings, has invited scrutiny. However, Ponting believes the tough initiation has masked the young gun’s potential.
“I read some really interesting quotes by Robert Craddock about Sam Konstas, how the Australians sort of tried to protect him from what they thought would be a difficult tour of Sri Lanka. They left him out, hoping to bring him in for the Caribbean where things might’ve been easier. Well, it’s been the opposite. The wickets in Sri Lanka turned out to be better for batting, and the Caribbean tracks, much harder,” Ponting noted.
Ponting cited the brutal conditions in the West Indies, where the hosts were bowled out for 27 in the final innings of the series. he former skipper acknowledged that Konstas is going through the classic technical and mental adjustments most young batters face, especially under the microscope.
“That’s not just down to high-quality bowling. That’s down to surfaces, the ball, and all sorts of things. Every batter trying to find their way at international level gets picked apart. Sam’s been accused of having trouble with the ball coming back in, and we saw lbws and chop-ons in the Caribbean. But when he corrects that and stays more leg-side, the outside edge comes into play, like in that second innings of the first Test,” the Aussie great argued.
Yet for Ponting, the answer is not to drop the youngster, it’s to support him. He also reflected on his own difficult beginnings in Test cricket, recalling that it took him two years to register a second century after debuting at 20. His advice for Konstas was grounded, yet poignant.
“I’m not going to make harsh judgments on Sam yet. That series was tough for every batter. They have to stick with him and help him work through these deficiencies . The unfortunate thing about Test cricket is you have to work it out for yourself. You can seek all the advice in the world, but it’s in the middle where you really learn. It’s trial and error until you find the remedy. He’s probably got a lot of people giving advice right now. If I were him, I’d pick one or two close people and block out the noise. Keep preparation simple,” Ponting concluded.
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