BGT 2023: Ricky Ponting backs Travis Head’s omission from 1st take a look at, however Steve Waugh thinks in any other case

The speak of the city, Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023, obtained underway on Thursday (February 9) when Australia confronted India on the Day 1 of the primary Check of the four-match collection in Nagpur. The Aussies, nevertheless, took everybody unexpectedly as they dropped in type and world no. 4 ranked Check batter Travis Head from the opening recreation of the BGT 2023.

Successful the toss and opting to bat first, the Pat Cummins-led Australia obtained off to a tough begin and was bundled out for 177. Marnus Labuschagne (49) and Steve Smith (37) have been the best contributors for the Aussies. In the meantime, Ravindra Jadeja took a five-wicket haul for India and performed a big position in bowling out the guests.

Enjoying instead of Head, Matt Renshaw did not impress with the bat and was dismissed leg earlier than wicket by Jadeja for a golden duck.

Whereas many appeared baffled and questioned the inclusion of Renshaw over Head, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting within the ICC Assessment Podcast backed the choice citing there would have been 5 left-handers if Head was given a spot.

“I’ve really been questioning what they may do with their line-up, The truth that they performed Matt Renshaw in Sydney (within the final Check), to me meant that they’d most likely had different plans in thoughts for him,” stated Ponting

“In the event that they’re going to maintain him in, they couldn’t actually afford to maintain Travis Head in both, as a result of they’d’ve had 5 left-handers of their high seven, which most likely would’ve performed into Ravi Ashwin’s palms. Ashwin loves, as we all know, bowling to left-handers,” he added.

Ponting additional stated: “The opposite aspect of it’s that Travis’ document outdoors of Australia, and notably within the subcontinent, is nowhere close to pretty much as good. So if you put all these items collectively, I really wasn’t that stunned.”

However, Australia veteran Steve Waugh appeared livid with the Head’s exclusion from the primary take a look at in opposition to India and took a dig on the choice panel. The 57-year-old took to Instagram and wrote: “Onerous to imagine we will drop the quantity 4 ranked take a look at batsman on the planet and possibly our greatest batsman within the final 12 months plus he bowls higher than common off spin – let’s wait and see-maybe the Aussie selectors are geniuses!”