Ricky Ponting shaken by colleague’s TV commentary drive by

Ricky Ponting has had an answer for everything this Ashes series but there was only the sound of laughter after this colleague’s unnecessary swipe.

What did Ricky Ponting ever do to Dinesh Karthik?

The Australian icon was on Monday morning roasted by his Sky Sports commentary team colleague during a brief lull in play during Australia’s second innings run chase.

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Australia is starting to dream of a miracle escape at The Oval after dominating England in a rain-shortened day four in the Fifth Test.

Usman Khawaja and David Warner combined for the first century opening stand of the series before the London weather brought an early end to play midway through the second session with Australia 0/135.

There was one scary moment where Khawaja was struck on the helmet by England quick Mark Wood, prompting a lengthy delay while he was assessed for potential head injury and his helmet was replaced.

Karthik used the opportunity to give Ponting a serve — something that was clearly orchestrated with the help of Sky Sports producers, who had all the film he needed ready to go.

Ricky Ponting was caught short in 2009. Photo: Getty and 9Now.

The Indian star suggested the Aussie commentary duo of Ponting and former Aussie Test captain Mark Taylor were being more confident than they should about Australia’s hops of chasing a record 383 to win.

Karthik explained Australia’s fragile hopes by using footage of Ponting being run out during the 2009 Ashes Test at The Oval when the former captain’s dismissal triggered an Australian collapse.

Dinesh Karthik at it again 😂
Took on @RickyPonting this time 🔥

MUST WATCH!#Ashes#ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/FCq2XhuXjl

— Elon Muska (Parody) (@ThatWalaGuy) July 30, 2023

Ponting was thrown under the bus by Michael Hussey and was caught short of his ground when Andrew Flintoff pulled off a direct hit when throwing the to batter’s end.

Hussey went on to score 121 not out, but it was not enough to save Australia.

“It’s been a topsy-turvy day and the two Australian commentators are going ga-ga over how Australia is going,” Karthik said with a grin.

“Here is Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey. They’d put on 127 before that happened and after that, I reckon they lost the Test and the Ashes post that.”

Ricky Ponting telling Pat Cummins where to aim for Dinesh Karthik. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.

There was a brief awkward pause in the broadcast where stifled laughter could be heard.

Taylor then responded by saying: “Gee, have a bit of that! There you go. Dinesh Karthik has become an honorary Englishman overnight”.

Ponting still had a shot to fire as the TV broadcast showed Karthik bumping knuckles and chuckling with another member of the Sky team.

“He’s making sure he’s got a contract next year. Locking himself in, in the Sky box,” he said.

“Good work, DK. And he’s getting knuckles from the rest of them up the back as well. Wearing ill on us Australians.”

Taylor said he liked Australia’s hopes of winning the test on Monday night more than the scenario Ponting faced in 2009 when chasing 530.

It is going to be a dramatic end to the Ashes at The Oval — on and off the field.

Khawaja is 69 not out, having passed Zak Crawley as the leading run scorer in the series, while Warner is 58 not out and well on his way to a career-saving century.