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'I love it': Ricky Ponting after England's Audacious Declaration on Day 1 of Ashes Opener

image-lizp3g0zEngland declared at 393 for 8 [AP Photos]

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting expressed his admiration for England's audacious move as they declared their first innings in the opening Ashes Test at 393/8 within a mere 78 overs.

The home team's decision to take the bat first proved fruitful, with Joe Root's exceptional display propelling him to his 30th century in Tests. Jonny Bairstow and Zak Crawley's quick half-centuries were also useful, injecting a burst of energy into the proceedings.


While speaking to the official broadcasters of the Ashes 2023, Ponting enthusiastically endorsed England's bold tactics and appreciated them for their relentless drive to propel the game forward and create favourable conditions for victory. 

He expressed his genuine admiration, stating that he thoroughly enjoyed the declaration. Punter attributed the bold move and the transformative approach of the current England regime led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

“We were sort of expecting it, weren’t we? They were up with the scoring rate and had a chance to get the Australians out for 15-20 minutes tonight. I love it, to be honest. That’s all about Ben Stokes and the new attitude of this current England regime under Stokes and McCullum,” said Ponting.

The English side's strategic play and their steadfast commitment to seizing crucial moments within the contest garnered Ponting's utmost admiration.

“They are doing everything to take the game forward and give themselves the best chance of winning games. They are trying to capitalize and seize the moment,” added the legendary Australian.

Meanwhile, England's declaration created history as they achieved the earliest declaration in the history of the longest format of the game. Since the appointment of Stokes and McCullum at the helm, the landscape of England's Test cricket has experienced a transformative shift that has ushered in a newfound era of promise and optimism.

As the curtains fell on Day 1, Australia found themselves trailing by a substantial margin of 379 runs, with all ten wickets in hand. Openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja expertly negotiated four overs and took their team to 14/0 at Stumps on Day 1.