Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has launched a scathing attack on England cricketer Ollie Robinson after the latter name-dropped Ponting during a verbal altercation with Usman Khawaja in the first Ashes Test in 2023.
Reflecting on the incident, Ponting told the ICC Review podcast that he found it unusual that Robinson mentioned his name and opined that the English pacer should be focused on the present. Ponting also commented on Robinson’s subpar performance in the Test and suggested that if the bowler is thinking about him, then it’s no wonder he didn’t perform well.
The two players were engaged in heated discussions during the match as Robinson sledged Khawaja after dismissing him in the first innings, and Khawaja returned the favor on Day 5 of the match. Robinson had then name-dropped Ponting while commenting on the history of sledging in Ashes cricket.
Ponting suggested that Robinson will learn quickly that if he’s going to talk to Australian cricketers in an Ashes series, then he’ll need to be able to back it up with his skills. He also warned England that they will soon find out what playing Ashes cricket against a good Australian team is all about.
The incident took place during a match that saw Australia win by just two wickets, with skipper Pat Cummins leading the team to a brilliant victory. The altercation between Robinson and Khawaja was one of the biggest talking points from the game.
In conclusion, it remains to be seen how Robinson will respond to Ponting’s scathing attack. The Ashes series is far from over, and there’s still a lot of cricket left to be played. Fans will no doubt look forward to seeing how the rest of the series unfolds.
