Ricky Ponting and Kevin Pietersen (Photo Source: twitter)
The ongoing Ashes opener at Edgbaston is headed towards a thrilling finish as the match is hanging in the balance even after four days of relentless cricket from the arch-rivals. While the fans have been thoroughly entertained by the quality of cricket on display in Birmingham, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s razor-sharp response to shut down Kevin Pietersen has been doing the rounds on social media.
England were quick off the blocks in the morning session of the fourth day with former skipper Joe Root at his exuberant best. Root played some extravagant shots, including a couple of audacious reverse ramp shots against the Aussie pacers, during his blistering innings. However, his no-nonsense approach at the crease eventually led to his demise after he was stumped for the first time in his Test career.
Following Root’s brisk cameo, former England international Kevin Pietersen waxed lyrical about the batting bulwark at the Lunch break. However, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was not having any of it as he shut down his colleague with a typically blunt response.
“Joe Root owned the game. He ran the game, he was pure quality and he just owned that space, with (Australia) scratching their heads going what do we do?” Pietersen said.
“Well, he’s out now. He got 40,” Ponting quipped in his blunt response.
Peak alpha stuff from Punter here that @gradecricketer would be proud of:
✅ speaks only in sidemouth while looking disinterested
✅ Shuts down some waffle in one sentence
✅ Rounds down the oppositions score
RTP still terrorising England.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/TX5KXoJYQm
— Josh Conway (@BuzzConway_) June 19, 2023
Australia eyeing famous victory with an in-from Usman Khawaja still at the crease
Coming to the match, Root’s brisk cameo, followed by Harry Brook and Ben Stokes’ handy innings, put the pressure on the visitors on the fourth morning of the Edgbaston Test. With Australia needing 174 runs on the final day, the visitors would fancy their chances on a benign surface, especially with Moeen Ali’s finger issue handicapping the English bowling attack.