When India Focuses On Dishing Out Rank Turners, It Backfires: Ricky Ponting
India waiting for a DRS decision [AP Photos]
With the fourth and final Test just 24 hours away, all the focus surrounding the Ahmedabad Test has shifted back to the pitches, with India looking to win the encounter and qualify for the ICC World Test Championship Final.
As reported, the curators have prepared two tracks on stand-by at the Narendra Modi Stadium, a green top and a turner, with no specific instructions given by the Indian Team.
Former skipper Ricky Ponting, ahead of the Test on Thursday, has urged Indian coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma to focus on the match and not dwell on preparing for a rank-turner.
Speaking to ICC Review, Ponting added salt to India's wound saying their plan of making rank-turners have backfired on them on most occasions.
Here's what Ponting said
"I have seen this happen in India before. When they get so focussed on trying to produce really rank turners it could backfire quickly. It had happened when Steven O'Keefe had taken all those wickets.
If I was there I wouldn't be looking too far ahead to the WTC final, they should only be looking at the next five days of Test cricket,”
The third Test at Indore witnessed Indian batters succumb to Australian spinners on a dust-bowl, which raised doubts over the hosts' ability to bat in home conditions.
India are 2-1 ahead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
 "Vishal Mehra")
