Ponting: Cummins a "Traditional Captain" before 4th Ashes

Ricky Ponting, the legendary cricketer, shared his observations about the contrasting captaincy styles of Australian skipper Pat Cummins and his English counterpart Ben Stokes during the ongoing Ashes series. According to Ponting, Cummins embodies a more traditional approach to Test captaincy, allowing plans to unfold, while Stokes is known for constantly seeking opportunities to make an impact with every ball. The decisions made by these relatively new captains have sparked intense debates, with Stokes’ early declaration in the first innings of the opening Test and Cummins’ limited use of rookie spinner Todd Murphy in the Headingley loss coming under scrutiny from media and pundits.

In a recent interview with ‘The ICC Review,’ Ricky Ponting shared his views on the ongoing Ashes series, describing it as one of the most tactical he has witnessed. The former cricketer highlighted the contrasting styles of play and leadership displayed by the two captains, Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes. 

Ponting explained that Cummins adopts an old-fashioned Test match captaincy approach, setting fields and allowing plans to unfold gradually over time. On the other hand, Stokes is more aggressive, constantly trying to make things happen with every ball, which sometimes hinders the execution of well-laid plans. 

Having taken over as Test captain after Tim Paine’s sudden resignation before the 2021 Ashes, Cummins has had a successful run as skipper. Under his leadership, Australia secured victories in the last Ashes series, as well as against Pakistan, West Indies, and South Africa. They also drew a series 1-1 with Sri Lanka away from home and won the World Test Championship mace by defeating India in the final.

While acknowledging Cummins’ relative inexperience as captain, Ponting emphasized that he is still learning and growing in the role. Despite facing some criticism after the loss against India, Cummins’ performance as captain remains commendable, considering Australia’s 2-1 lead in the Ashes series. 

Ponting urged everyone to wait until the end of the series to assess both captains’ tactics based on the overall result. He believes that analyzing the performance in retrospect will provide a more accurate evaluation of their leadership abilities. The fourth Test between Australia and England is set to begin in Manchester on Wednesday.