‘Diabolical’: Ponting, Warner in disbelief over Aussie’s ‘ugly’ act

Aussie cricket legends have been left staggered after an “embarrassing” act that turned Day 2 of the Gabba Test on its head.

Ricky Ponting has called Cameron Green’s brain fart an “ugly, ugly Test match dismissal” after the star all-rounder was knocked over late on Day 2 of the second Ashes Test.

Green and Steve Smith had Australia cruising to a dominant position at 3/291 under lights at the Gabba before a moment of madness where he stepped away and offered English bowler Brydon Carse a free bowl at the stumps.

The nature of Green’s amateur, T20, bumbling dismissal has left cricket commentators scratching their heads.

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Falling away with his momentum dragging backwards, Green had stumbled off the pitch entirely as Carse sent the zing bails flying.

Aussie great David Warner appeared genuinely flabbergasted in commentary on Fox Cricket.

“It’s baffling, you’re six-and-a-half foot tall, it’s ridiculous to keep moving around like that and playing white-ball style cricket,” Warner said.

Knocked him over. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Cameron Green was off the pitch. Photo: Fox Cricket.

“But when you’re so far away from your stumps, if he does throw at the stumps you’re not going to be able to reach it, which was his downfall.

“Every single ball, if you showed the bowler back, anyone with half a brain would go at the stumps.”

The day’s play was briefly turned on its head when Steve Smith was dismissed with a ripping catch by Will Jacks in the same over.

Warner was asked if he could believe what he was seeing, with Australia starting the over at 3/290 and ending it 5/292.

He replied: “I absolutely cannot”.

Green had attempted the same step-back slog multiple times against Carse — and it proved to be his undoing after predictably going back to the same well.

Green was earlier wincing in pain after Gus Atkinson steamed in and caught the 26-year-old right on his thumb.

Green required treatment.

He managed to put on another 12 runs after the incident, but looked to be backing away more and more as his innings progressed.

It didn't look any from behind. Photo: Channel 7.

Cam Green looked sheepish in the Aussie pavilion. Photo: Channel 7.

Ponting was scathing in his commentary on Channel 7.

“I’m sure we will see replays for a long time of that Green dismissal,” he said.

“As the ball cannons into his stump he finishes off the pitch. He is about a foot off the actual cut surface. It’s an issue I have when those batters start moving outside their leg stump, sometimes they don’t understand how far they actually are going. If it’s something that he wants to do on that part of his game he’ll have to work that out.

“We will see it here. When the ball hits the stumps look where he actually finishes. That’s a huge step away. Watch this next step. Look where he finished. That is an ugly, ugly Test match dismissal.”

David Warner was not impressed. Photo: Kayo.

After a meagre output of one wicket and 24 runs in Perth — and with plenty of calls for Beau Webster to come back into the team — Green is no certainty to remain in the side by the end of the summer.

Former ABC cricket commentator Glenn Mitchell wrote on X: “Cameron Green’s dismissal is impossible to fathom … AUS cruising at 3-291 … 45 not out … and he gifts his wicket in a totally bizarre fashion”.

Aussie sport commentary account “The Oracle” wrote on X: “One of the worst shots you’ll see considering the state of this test.

“England were on their knees and Green plays this diabolical shot.”

ABC sports commentator Zane Bojack also posted: “Cameron Green should hang his head in shame”.

It was suddenly game on with Australia five down — and then 6/329 — but Alex Carey and Michael Neser steadied the ship to guide Australia to 6/378 at stumps.

The hosts will look to build a formidable lead before sending England into bat under the lights at the Gabba on Saturday.

It was a tough day in the field for the tourist where they appeared helpless at times against an Aussie batting line-up spearheaded by Jake Weatherald (72), Marnus Labuschagne (65) and Steve Smith (61), as Australia made it to stumps with a 44-run lead.

Originally published as ‘Diabolical’: Ponting, Warner in disbelief over Aussie’s ‘ugly’ act