Ashes 2019: Ricky Ponting Advice David Warner on How to Combat Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad has troubled David Warner a lot in the ongoing Ashes series by dismissing the opening batsman a couple of times. However, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes, if David Warner can ramp up the aggression against England speedster, Stuart Broad, he can score big.

David Warner had been in a great form during Indian Premier League and in the ICC World Cup but he suddenly lost his form in the Ashes where he returned after completing one year ban. He has an average of 11.28 in the series and Broad has dismissed him five times in seven innings. This was the second time in the series where he fell while attempting to leave the ball.

“Davey is obviously struggling with Stuart Broad,” Ricky Ponting told Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au) on Wednesday. “He has got his number, that round-the-wicket angle is really worrying him. It’s worrying all the left-handers to be honest,” he said.

“Davey, again, was lured into playing trying to leave. That’s the second time in the series it’s happened and I think it’s a real mindset thing for him. If he’s looking to hit the ball and not leave the ball like he is I think he’d be fine,” he added.

Barring his 61 in the first-innings at Headingley, Warner has failed to surpass eight runs in the other six innings of the series. However, his second consecutive duck was referred ‘Broad’s bunny’ by Australian cricket media and many raised eyebrows as the selectors had excluded the wrong one in the form of Usman Khawaja.

However, not only David Warner but his opening partner Marcus Harris also failed to score big as he fell for mere 13 at Headingley. Harris replaced Cameron Bancroft after the second test who was excluded after a poor show.

The opening failures of Australia put pressure on Steve Smith, who single-handedly scoring for his side. He, however, scored a double ton and Australia declared at 497 with the loss of 8 wickets. However, Ponting said he had a talk with Warner about how to combat Broad.

“I’ve said a few things to him about how I thought he could line up and try and play but it’s a different thing to work on that at training and have the courage to go out and try and do that in a test match,” Ponting said.

“When you see Davey at his best he’s not really even thinking about leaving those (deliveries), he’s trying to stand up on top of the bounce and hit that through the covers,” he concluded.