Ricky Ponting suffers 15-year deja vu as England’s attempt blatant time-wasting tactics to stall Australia
Ricky Ponting was left shaking his head from the commentary box as England did everything it could to stop an Australian victory in the ODI series decider.
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Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was left shaking his head from the commentary box as England’s cricketers attempted to force a draw through time-wasting tactics in the ODI series decider in Bristol.
Those efforts ultimately proved to be in vain, with Australia winning by 49 runs via the DLS method.
Chasing a 310-run target for victory, Australia plundered 103 runs during the Powerplay to put themselves well ahead of the DLS par score with the looming threat of rain.
However, the match still needed to last at least 20 overs to be considered a completed ODI
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As the clouds grew darker and the wind got heavier, England bowler Matthew Potts attempted to slow down proceedings in the 18th over by removing his left shoe and calling for a replacement.
With 14 deliveries still needed to constitute a result, Potts successfully soaked up three minutes of play as a substitute fielder jogged onto the field holding a shoe as the frustrated umpires watched on. Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne and assistant coach Daniel Vettori failed to hide their bemusement, laughing from the sheds.
“Matthew Potts is calling for new boots now and the umpire is looking at him with a degree of displeasure,” commentator Geoff Lemon said on BBC Test Match Special.
“This is nonsense!”
Ponting, who famously captained Australia during the 2009 Ashes Test in Cardiff when England attempted similar time-wasting tactics, watched on in bewilderment from the Sky Sports commentary box.
“We’ve seen this movie before,” Ponting laughed.
“This is getting funnier by the minute.
“We can see that there’s nothing wrong with the boot.”
Fellow Sky Sports commentator Ian Ward jeered: “These things happen, Rick … he’s just after a manicure.”
Referencing the Cardiff incident, where Ponting lost his temper with England’s 12th man and physiotherapist as Australia desperately searched for a decisive wicket on the final day, Ward continued: “Are you going to give him a spray, just like you did that fella in Cardiff back in the day? You were his hero!”
Ponting replied with a smile: “Not for long.”
Potts’ antics proved futile, with the players squeezing in a further 18 deliveries before the dreaded rain arrived in the 21st over.
“The rain almost saved them again after last year,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh joked during the post-match press conference.
HEAD SHINES TO POWER AUSTRALIA TO VICTORY
Travis Head starred with both bat and ball as world champions Australia completed a 3-2 series win.
England were set for a huge total when opener Ben Duckett (107) and in-form captain Harry Brook (72) shared a third-wicket stand of 132 in 98 balls.
But from 2-202, slow bowling proved the undoing of an England team inexperienced in 50-over cricket as they lost their last eight wickets for 107 runs to be dismissed for 309, with part-time spinner Head taking an ODI best 4-28.
Australia made a blistering start to their chase, with Matthew Short (58) and Head (31) sharing an opening stand of 78 in slightly more than seven overs.
And when rain stopped play, Australia were 2-165 off 20.4 overs – well ahead of the target required under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for weather-affected white-ball games.
Steven Smith, leading Australia in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh, was 36 not out before the umpires called the game off at 6:00 pm local time (1700 GMT).
“They (England) were on track for a big total,” said Marsh at the presentation ceremony. “I thought the way the bowling attack assessed the conditions to pull them back – a fantastic effort.”
Head, the player of the series with 248 runs at an average of nearly 83, including an ODI best 154 not out in the 1st ODI at Trent Bridge, and six wickets at just 10.33 apiece, said: “I didn’t expect to bowl too much. We have heaps of options. It wasn’t really on my radar.”
The 30-year-old, who scored a century in last year’s World Cup final win over India, added: “A win in the series is a great achievement. We have played quite well forever really in this format.”
Brook, leading England this series in the absence of the injured Jos Buttler, said: “It’s nice to get on the board, score a few runs and contribute to some wins.”
But the 25-year-old was happy to hand the reins back to Buttler, adding: “Captaincy has been good. It’s something I might think about in the future but I’ll sit back and let Jos do it for now.”
Short and Head punished a wayward England attack featuring Olly Stone, in for the rested Jofra Archer.
But Brydon Carse struck with his first ball when he had left-hander Head caught at cover.
Short went to fifty when he pulled Carse for his fourth six in just 23 balls before he was caught behind driving at Potts.
Earlier, Brook came in at 2-70after Will Jacks was out for a duck. Brook had struck a maiden and match-winning ODI century at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday that helped reduce England’s deficit to 2-1 before his 87 laid the foundation for a colossal 186-run success at Lord’s on Friday.
The Yorkshireman carried on that good form by audaciously scooping experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for four.
Duckett, who made 63 at Lord’s, completed a 45-ball fifty before Brook reached the landmark in just 39 balls when he drove Hardie over long-on for six.
Brook then struck leg-spinner Adam Zampa for successive sixes at the start of the 25th over.
But Zampa, holding his nerve, deceived Brook four balls later with a slower, flighted delivery the batsman miscued low to Glenn Maxwell at long-off. Zampa finished with an expensive 2-74 from his full 10 overs.
Brook’s exit sparked an England slump but Duckett, out for 95 at Trent Bridge, completed his second career ODI hundred – both made at Bristol – in 86 balls including 13 fours and a six.
But the left-hander’s first England century in all formats this season, after several close calls in both Tests and ODIs, ended soon afterwards when he holed out off Head.
Originally published as Ricky Ponting suffers 15-year deja vu as England’s attempt blatant time-wasting tactics to stall Australia
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