Auckland, Nov 20: Former Australia coach John Buchanan believes that one of Ricky Ponting’s career-long strengths might be turning against him as he has been out lbw in almost identical fashion on four occasions during the ongoing South Africa tour.
Buchanan said that Ponting’s on-side skills had long been a feature of his game, but whereas he had sometimes been lucky to escape lbw appeals in the past, Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) was now giving him no second chances.
“Ponting has been an exceptionally strong onside player all his career. To do so, he has either moved slightly inside the length ball to work to onside, or has indeed had the skill to play slightly across the ball which is coming into him or is in line with middle and leg. It is a weakness and a strength,” Buchanan told the Sun Herald.
“He has scored so many runs through this approach, but has also fallen foul to the odd lbw decision. Until the review system was introduced, I believe umpiring decisions had more than favoured him over the years for not being given lbw to this type of delivery.”
“He is more vulnerable early in an innings, like all players, because his balance is not quite right as he plays this favourite shot - he tends to fall across to the offside while playing it,” he added.
Since the Ashes last December, Ponting has averaged just 14.15 from 13 innings.
In that time, the 36-year-old hasn’t scored a half century and has seven single-figure scores and three ducks to his name.
© ANI
