Ashes 2021-22: Ricky Ponting predicts series score-line, reveals venue where England will trouble hosts

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has predicted the Ashes score-line on the eve of the opening clash in Brisbane. Ponting reckoned that Australia will trump England 3-1 while giving them the edge for the Adelaide Test.

“I think Australia will win, because England are going to struggle to take 20 wickets, with the kind of bowlers [they have]. They do not have a real quality spinner in their lineup for these conditions,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.

There are potentially some scars from our summer too – the Aussies will have to get over with that; put it behind them. If they [Australia] take England lightly or take anything for granted, then it can potentially be closer than what everyone is saying,” he added. On being asked for a score-line, he said, “3-1 to Australia”, while giving England the Adelaide Test.

Ricky Ponting has spoken! The Aussie legend shares his predicted #Ashes scoreline, and the venue where England will most trouble Australia pic.twitter.com/4hCA3ayLWw

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2021

The series kickstarts in Brisbane’s Gabba on December 8, the venue termed as a fortress for the hosts given their formidable record, with their last loss dating back to nearly three decades ago. However, the fortress was breached as recently as this year when a second-string Indian team scripted a triumph for the ages to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Veteran pacer Stuart Broad admitted in the build-up to the Gabba Test that England must ensure they start the series well while adding that despite going down against India at the venue, Australia won’t have that on their minds.

“We know that it’s the first couple of days at the Gabba that’s important and can set up our series. Australia lost their last game at the Gabba, so will that be on their minds? Probably not as it’s quite a long time ago,” he said.

Australia Squad- Pat Cummins (C), Steve Smith (VC), Alex Carry (WK), Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Cameron Green, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson.

England Squad: Joe Root (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Daniel Lawrence, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Craig Overton, Chris Woakes, Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, James Anderson, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood