‘Back in your crease’: Ricky Ponting sledge emerges ahead of England World Cup game

The fireworks are set to begin again as Australia face England at the T20 World Cup if Ricky Ponting’s recent sledge is anything to go by.

The banter between Australia and England is set to kick off again as the two sides prepare to face off in the group stage of the T20 World Cup.

That’s if a sledge from Ricky Ponting directed to Jonny Bairstow during this year’s Indian Premier League tournament is anything to go by.

The Punjab Kings star, still fuming from his controversial Ashes stumping in the second Test at Lord’s last year, was caught out of his crease and run out at the non-strikers end during a match against the Ponting-coached Delhi Capitals in March.

Ponting, who fiercely defended Pat Cummins from accusations of breaching the spirit of cricket during the Ashes stumping drama, was quick to remind Bairstow of his responsibilities.

“He (Bairstow) got run out at the non-strikers end against Delhi, and Punter said ‘get back in your crease!’” Bairstow’s IPL teammate and Aussie fast bowler Nathan Ellis told news.com.au.

“There’s always a bit of banter when Johnny’s around. He ended up being a really good mate of mine (during the IPL).”

Jonny Bairstow was caught out of his crease again in this year’s IPL. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting sledged Bairstow about staying in his crease. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Despite some Ashes-fuelled friction between him and his English colleagues at the Punjab Kings, Ellis insisted that he actually got along very well with the likes of Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran during his fourth season with the franchise.

“I enjoyed my time with those English boys. And hopefully we’ll get one over them in a few days,” Ellis said ahead of Australia’s T20 World Cup group stage match against England on Sunday morning (AEST).

Ellis, who took two wickets in Australia’s opening World Cup match against Oman on Thursday, said Bairstow was a great teammate despite some tension arising from the dramatic 2023 Ashes series in which Bairstow’s controversial stumping by Alex Carey proved central in Australia retaining the urn.

Punjab Kings' Nathan Ellis (L) celebrates with England teammates Sam Curran (R) and Jonny Bairstow on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Biju BORO / AFP)

“He’s a good bloke, if it wasn’t for the accent, you could argue he is Australian,” Ellis said.

“There’s obviously a little bit of friendly banter happening about what’s coming up, but they’re (England) obviously a really good side and defending champions.

“After spending the last two months with a few of those guys, I’m really excited to play against them, and see them again, to be honest. Hopefully we get one over them.”

After a frustrating IPL campaign in which he struggled to break into Punjab’s best XI, the 29-year-old said he was excited to be part of the World Cup squad as Australia look to make amends for their shocking group stage exit in 2022.

“It probably wasn’t my dream IPL in terms of only playing one game, but it’s pretty amazing to be here (at the World Cup) and just stoked to be part of the squad,” Ellis said.

(L-R) Mitch Marsh, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Usman Khawaja, Tim David and Ashton Agar pictured in Trinidad ahead of the World Cup. Pic: Prime Video

Meanwhile, reigning Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year Usman Khawaja said he expects a “little bit of fire” between Australia and England when the two teams face off in Barbados, with memories still fresh of England players snubbing the Aussies for the traditional post-series drinks.

“It’s hard to have banter in T20 tournaments because everything is so fast, in a Test match you’ve got a little bit more time (for it to build),” Khawaja told news.com.au.

“In T20 games it goes bang, bang, bang, bang, and (there’s no time for it).

“So there might be a little bit of fire between Australia and England, don’t get me wrong.

“I think there’s still a little bit of fire there, but there’s always been fire there, we’ve been playing cricket (against each other) for yonks.

“The history, the tradition of Australia versus England is, you know, it’s embedded in Australian culture it’s embedded in English culture, particular cricket culture.

“So I expect there to be a little bit of fire there (in this tournament) but that’s been going on for ages. So yes, but drinks after the game? I’ll let the boys decide on that.”

Aussie spinner Adam Zampa said the match against England was going to be a “good fun game”.

“Playing them in Barbados, I said to a couple of other guys, it’s probably gonna feel like a home game for them,” Zampa said.

“It’s a short flight from the UK and there will be a lot of sunburnt pommies in the crowd I reckon.”

- This writer travelled to Trinidad for the Word Cup as a guest of Prime Video, the official broadcaster of the T20 World Cup.