Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting pinpoints the one moment that lost England the Ashes in drama-filled series… and it isn’t the rain at Old Trafford
- Ponting says early declaration cost England
- Stokes declared at 393/8 after just 78 overs
- Pietersen was also shocked by the decision
Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has pinpointed the one moment that will haunt England, as rain ensured there would be no final Test decider at The Oval and the Aussies retain the Ashes.
Pat Cummins‘ men will take their 2-1 lead into the final Test, which begins on Thursday, with the trophy already decided but still with a chance to win their first series in England in more than two decades.
England dominated the opening three days at Old Trafford, but the hosts will be left ruing missed opportunities earlier in the series.
Ponting believes Ben Stokes‘ unexpected declaration on the opening day of the First Test at Edgbaston was a big mistake.
England declared their first innings at 393/8 after just 78 overs, making it the earliest first-innings declaration in Ashes history.
Ricky Ponting believes the decision to declare early in the first Test cost England dearly
Stokes’ controversial decision to declare early (pictured) surprised lots of pundits and fans – and Ponting says it has cost them the Ashes
‘I think they will regret the fact that they declared,’ Ponting told Sky Sports.
‘I think they’ll regret how hard they went with the bat in the second innings.
‘A 280-run lead having been bowled out in the second innings, I think if you had’ve asked straight after losing the toss, you’re going to be happy chasing 280. I would’ve taken that.’
Stokes’ decision shocked many in the cricket world, including former England skipper Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen expressed his concern with the early declaration at the time, emphasizing that England should have aimed to make the 400-450 run mark.
‘The pressure’s on England. What England have done, unfortunately, is put unnecessary pressure on themselves by declaring too early in the first Test.
That is craziness because of the pressure that they’re now under going into the second match.’
Kevin Pietersen expressed his concern with the early declaration at the time
Stokes says he has no regrets about any decisions he’d made earlier in the series
Following the washout at Old Trafford Stokes said he didn’t regret decisions he made earlier in the series.
‘You can’t change what’s happened in the past,’ he told the BBC.
‘A lot of things can always be said about stuff that’s already happened, that’s just theoretical things, you can’t change the decision that you’ve made, I’ll always back decisions that I take because I know it’s the right decision to try and force a result and what I think is at the given time.
‘Sometimes it doesn’t work out the way you want it to, but I’m never going to look back and question anything that we did.’