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Travis Head stuns cricket world again as Ricky Ponting lashes dodgy England tactic in ODI

The Aussie cricket icon was less than impressed with one of England's decisions with the series on the line.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·5-min read

Ricky Ponting has blasted England and Matthew Potts during Australia's 3-2 series win over the hosts after a a questionable move as Aussie fan favourite Travis Head continued his white-ball dominance. Head led Australia to a series deciding victory against England in the firth ODI, but it was his bowling that stole the show.

England got off to a roaring start in the series decider as Phil Salt and Ben Duckett took it to the Aussie quicks. However, Head came on to slow down the tempo with his off-spin and he ended up ripping through the batting line-up to take 4-28 off 6.2 overs in a career-best spell.

Ricky Ponting (pictured) blasted England bowler Matthew Potts (pictured left) for changing his shoes in what was deemed a brutal tactic to slow down the over rate in Australia's win. (Getty Images)
Ricky Ponting (pictured) blasted England bowler Matthew Potts (pictured left) for changing his shoes in what was deemed a brutal tactic to slow down the over rate in Australia's win. (Getty Images)

Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell also helped slow down the scoring as England were held to 302 with rain hovering around Bristol. Australia were forced to accelerate their scoring in the first 20 overs, which would decide the contest if the DLS method was needed.

Head blitzed the England quicks early to score 31 runs as Matt Short made a record-breaking half-century to promote Australia to 1-103 after 10 overs. This is when England opted to use some questionable tactics to slow down the game.

Knowing they were facing a series defeat with a loss - if the game reached 20 overs and Australia were ahead of the run-rate - Matthew Potts removed his shoe at 17.4 overs into the game. Potts did this as dark clouds covered the ground. There were only 14 deliveries left until the match hit 20 overs and the DLS method was enforced.

Potts then called for new shoes, despite only bowling a handful of overs. The tactics were being used to slow down the over rate and fans did not approve.

“Matthew Potts is calling for new boots now and the umpire is looking at him with a degree of displeasure,” Geoff Lemon said on BBC Test Match Special. “This is nonsense!”

Matthew Potts changing his shoes.
Matthew Potts (pictured) copped criticism for changing his shoes with 14 deliveries left until the 20th over and rain overhead.

On Sky Sports commentary, Ponting was reminded he had faced these exact same tactics before during the 2009 Ashes series when he was captain of the national side. “We’ve seen this movie before,” Ponting joked.

“This is getting funnier by the minute. We can see that there’s nothing wrong with the boot.” Fellow English commentator Ian Ward joked: “These things happen, Rick … he’s just after a manicure.”

The tactics didn't save England with Australia reaching the 20 overs ahead of the DLS rate before the rain hit. Although Ponting's displeasure at the tactics was also reciprocated with viewers watching from home. Many called out Potts and the English team accusing them of deliberately trying to slow the game down.

Head was player of the series and it was also his surprising contribution with the ball that helped Australia secure the win. Head joked after the match he didn't expect to be bowling so much throughout the series.

"Four-for - and death bowling as well! I don't know why Josh Hazlewood is always complaining about bowling at the death," Head said after the match. "I didn't come here expecting to bowl in the 50th over twice, so very nice to get the job done."

After Head's match-winning innings in the One Day International World Cup final against India, the Aussie has been arguably the premier white-ball player in world cricket. And his series against England only confirmed this title for many around the world.

Marsh wasn't able to captain Australia in the decider having injured his back ahead of the game. Steve Smith took over for the decider and rotated his bowlers well when Australia were facing the challenge of chasing down a mammoth total.

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And Marsh was full of praise for Smith and his team having won the series 3-2, despite a number of injuries and illnesses rocking the camp. "The way that, well Smudge (Smith) especially, and the bowling attack assessed the conditions and were able to pull them back, it was a fantastic effort," Marsh said.

He added: "It's certainly been a tricky series (with the injuries and illness) - five one-dayers in 12 days was always going to be a challenge - but it's just the calmness, our ability to stay present with the elevens we put out, that impressed me. It's been a great few weeks."

Travis Head hits a shot.
Travis Head (pictured) was player of the series against England.