- By Himanshu Badola
- Sat, 02 Aug 2025 04:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
England vs India 5th Test: Ricky Ponting came up with his take on Akash Deep's actions after dismissing Ben Duckett on the second day of the fifth Test between India and England at the Oval.
Ponting said he would have ‘probably’ landed a ‘right hook’ on any bowler that tried to send him off like Akash Deep did to Ben Duckett. Notably, the star Indian pacer rolled his arm over Duckett and said a few words after taking the latter's wicket.
Duckett didn't seem to say much but was fuming within. The matter was brought to Ponting during the Lunch break.
"I can think of a few batsmen down the years that would take umbrage at this, and I’m looking very much in your direction. That would have been a Ponting right hook, wouldn’t it?" Sky Sports presenter Ian Ward asked Ponting.
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"Probably yeah, probably," he replied.
Additionally, Ponting went on to say that such reactions from bowlers aren't seen every day in Tests, also saying that he now liked Duckett even more for reacting to it.
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"Although I mean, when I saw it, I just thought they must have been mates or played against each other somewhere or together. I would like to have something like that. I mean, you don’t see that every day, maybe in a local park game or not in a test match that’s been played as fiercely as this series has been played. I love the way that Ben Duckett plays his cricket. I think I like him more now, not to be able to react to that," Ponting added.
Duckett and Zak Crawley provided England a fiery start in their first innings after the hosts bowled India out for just 224 runs early on the second day. Duckett unleashed some attacking shots against the Indian bowlers, including Akash Deep. It was against Akash Deep that the left-handed batter survived a close chance, after which the pacer had something to say.
The English opener then shifted gears and pulled out a couple of audacious scoops for boundaries against Aakash and was heard telling that the pacer couldn’t get him out. But just like the third Test at Lord’s, Akash eventually got him out, making him glove another attempted scoop to Dhruv Jurel. As Duckett walked back, Akash put his arm around him and smiled.