Ricky Ponting rips Aussies as big score goes begging in fourth Ashes Test

Ricky Ponting has criticised Australia's batters over their inability to go on and score big on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test, after the tourists squandered some ideal batting conditions to finish at 8-299. Sent in to bat by England skipper Ben Stokes, the Aussies appeared primed to post a big first innings total on a pitch that looked flat and friendly for batting.

And while Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh all made it past 40, none of them were able to cash in and go even bigger. Labuschagne notched his first half-century of the series with 51, but was dismissed by a tame delivery from Moeen Ali that didn't appear to spin at all.

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Labuschagne played all around the straight delivery and was given out lbw after an England review. “There was no way in the world that ball should get you out,” Ponting said in commentary, describing the dismissal as "lazy" from Labuschagne.

Smith also missed a ball from Mark Wood in uncharacteristic fashion and was given out lbw for 41, while Travis Head holed out in the deep after an aggressive knock of 48. Marsh continued his fine form with 51 off 60 balls but also managed to get out at the worst time.

Alex Carey was caught behind late in the day for 20, becoming the fourth man to fall to Chris Woakes when he nicked a ball he was trying to leave. Seven Australians got starts, with David Warner making 32 off 38 balls at the top of the order, while Mitchell Starc was not out on 23 at the close of play.

However their inability to go on and post triple figures proved a huge win for England, who need to win the final two Tests for reclaim the Ashes from Australia. “I think Australia will be disappointed. They have let a very good opportunity slip,” Ponting said at stumps. “It has been pretty good batting conditions and their top score is 51.”

Nasser Hussain said: “England can be proud of what they’ve done today. They will be the happier side. Australia will see it as a missed opportunity to start to close the door on the series. They’ve certainly not done that.”

Ponting added: “I would agree with that. The average first innings score at this ground over the last 10 or 11 Test Matches has been 382. A number of the batsmen will be sitting back there, just thinking about their dismissals today, how they potentially let a great opportunity in this series just slip through their fingers.”

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Stuart Broad became the fifth man in cricket history to take 600 Test wickets when he dismissed Head, having earlier trapped Usman Khawaja for 3. "Where we were, and how many guys got themselves in, I think we would be slightly disappointed with no one getting a big score," Labuschagne said.

"But I think the statistics are really skewed in England to first-innings scores above 300. The wicket is a little bit two-paced. It's quite slow. It's not like some wickets I have played here (which are) are quite quick on day one."

Labuschagne came in for heavy criticism on social media, and admitted he was kicking himself to get out to such a regulation delivery. "I was probably a little bit lazy on that, tried to turn it to the leg side," he admitted.

"But it was the process that I was happy with. I was happy with my decision-making, which has been the part that's really been frustrating me from a personal side."

Australia's lack of a meaningful partnership told the story of the day, with stands of 15, 46, 59, 63, 6, 65, 1 and 45. Marsh was arguably the unluckiest, caught one-handed on a brilliant diving catch from Jonny Bairstow.

"It's hard to judge a pitch here until both teams bowl and bat on it," Broad said. "But the sun was out for a bit so it felt we did really well to get eight wickets today."

with AAP

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