Ponting advises Clarke not to drop to five
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has advised skipper Michael Clarke not to drop down the batting order for the fourth Ashes Test, but to stick with number four and get a few confidence-building runs on the board.
Clarke made just 10 and three in the third Test at Edgbaston, which England won by eight wickets inside three days. Ponting feels that 'Pup' needs to just get a middling score, and his rhythm and footwork will return swiftly.
Ponting told Sky Sports: "If Clarke doesn't bat at four (at Trent Bridge in the fourth Test) I think it sends a bad message out of the Australia dressing room.
"I don't think there is a major difference in the positions other than mindset, so he needs to forget his record at No. 5, score runs and take pressure off the younger middle order.
"He will be in the nets quickly but getting your rhythm back happens in the middle as the extreme pressures of Ashes cricket are hard to replicate in practice.
"It will only take a good 20 or 30 for Clarke to turn things around."
Clarke himself agreed that the batting position wasn't the problem, but rather his own lack of form in general: "No, that's 100 per cent my own form.
"It's always going to be difficult … No.4 is such a critical position. You need to make sure you're scoring a lot more runs than I have been so far."
As for Adam Voges, batting at five and not doing overly well recently, Ponting said Shaun Marsh could well get a call up to replace Voges, just like England would be looking at struggling opener Adam Lyth's place too.
Punter added: "There will be a similar conversation around Voges as there will be around Adam Lyth for England.
"We know he made a hundred a few Tests ago but he looks to me like he is struggling with the pressures of Ashes cricket.
"Marsh has scored runs in every tour game and played most of his domestic cricket at No. 5."
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.