‘I’m Not Sure I Have Seen a Worse Attack’: Ricky Ponting on Pakistan Bowlers

Pakistan bowlers have put up another dismal show where apart from Shaheen Afridi no one was able to pick up a single wicket. To which former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has referred to Pakistan’s bowlers as one of the worst bowling attacks he has seen on Australian shores so far.

Australia posted a huge total of 580 in their only innings in their first Test win in Brisbane, and things have become worst for Pakistan in the second match in Adelaide. Australia opener David Warner scored Australia’s second-highest Test score with unbeaten 335 before the captain Tim Paine declared the innings at 589 for 3.

“They (Pakistan’s bowlers) have been poor … their bowling attack is terrible really for a Test attack,” Ricky Ponting told cricket.com.au. “I’m not sure I have seen a worse bowling attack on our shores in a long time.”

The 16-year-old Naseem Shah made a Test debut in Brisbane where he returned with the figures of 1 for 68 from 20 overs. But they then dropped him for the Adelaide Test and gave the chance to the 19-year-old Muhammad Musa, who failed to take a single wicket while conceding 114 runs from 20 overs on debut.

“I still can’t understand why the 16-year-old hasn’t played this game, Naseem,” Ricky Ponting added. “And they go with another guy (Musa) who has played seven first-class games and just doesn’t look to be a Test match bowler. They haven’t got much cattle.”

“And when you haven’t got much cattle against a batting line-up as hungry as ours, and in our conditions, and a team that is really trying to prove themselves back on the world stage, then I think Pakistan have just been caught in a perfect storm,” Ricky Ponting concluded.

As far as the game is concerned, Pakistan were bowled out for 302 where Yasir Shah scored 113 off 213 which included 13 boundaries. Babar Azam was dismissed at 97 and failed to score another century. As the time of writing the article, Pakistan have lost 3 early wickets in their second innings. Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq are at the crease where they put up 123 for 3 in 39 overs.