BGT 2023: Ricky Ponting backs Travis Head’s omission from 1st check, however Steve Waugh thinks in any other case

The speak of the city, Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023, obtained underway on Thursday (February 9) when Australia confronted India on the Day 1 of the primary Check of the four-match sequence in Nagpur. The Aussies, nonetheless, took everybody without warning as they dropped in kind and world no. 4 ranked Check batter Travis Head from the opening recreation of the BGT 2023.

Profitable the toss and opting to bat first, the Pat Cummins-led Australia obtained off to a tough begin and was bundled out for 177. Marnus Labuschagne (49) and Steve Smith (37) had been the very best contributors for the Aussies. In the meantime, Ravindra Jadeja took a five-wicket haul for India and performed a major function in bowling out the guests.

Taking part in instead of Head, Matt Renshaw didn’t impress with the bat and was dismissed leg earlier than wicket by Jadeja for a golden duck.

Whereas many appeared baffled and questioned the inclusion of Renshaw over Head, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting within the ICC Assessment Podcast backed the choice citing there would have been 5 left-handers if Head was given a spot.

“I’ve truly been questioning what they could do with their line-up, The truth that they performed Matt Renshaw in Sydney (within the final Check), to me meant that they’d most likely had different plans in thoughts for him,” stated Ponting

“In the event that they’re going to maintain him in, they couldn’t actually afford to maintain Travis Head in both, as a result of they might’ve had 5 left-handers of their prime seven, which most likely would’ve performed into Ravi Ashwin’s palms. Ashwin loves, as we all know, bowling to left-handers,” he added.

Ponting additional stated: “The opposite aspect of it’s that Travis’ file outdoors of Australia, and significantly within the subcontinent, is nowhere close to pretty much as good. So once you put all these items collectively, I truly wasn’t that stunned.”

However, Australia veteran Steve Waugh appeared livid with the Head’s exclusion from the primary check in opposition to India and took a dig on the choice panel. The 57-year-old took to Instagram and wrote: “Arduous to consider we are able to drop the quantity 4 ranked check batsman on the earth and possibly our greatest batsman within the final 12 months plus he bowls higher than common off spin – let’s wait and see-maybe the Aussie selectors are geniuses!”