'Let them go as hard as they can' - Former Australia great's cold blooded advice for Pat Cummins' men during Lord's Test in Ashes 2023

Australia are in the driving seat in the second Test of the Ashes 2023, played at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. At stumps on Day 3, the visitors enjoy a lead of 221 runs, thanks to a first-innings lead of 91 runs conceded by the English after being bowled out for 325 runs. Aussies, on the other hand, played well to score 416 runs in the first innings on a tricky Lord’s surface. They ended Day 3 at a score of 130/2 after rain forced early stumps at the Mecca of Cricket.

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Amidst all the action, former Australia star batter Ricky Ponting unleashed his no-nonsense advice for Pat Cummins’ men to clinch the Test. While commentating for Sky Sports on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test, Punter said, critiquing England’s ‘Bazball’ approach, “Everything we hear from England is, that they are not going to be happy with a draw. They're going to do everything to try and win the game. Well, If I'm Australia, I'm batting as long as I can and setting the most ridiculous total. They actually said they will try to win. I will make it as unachievable as possible, let them go as hard as they can.”

Australia lead the five-Test series 1-0

England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach under new head coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes came under the scanner following the first Test of Ashes 2023. While their approach has been very successful until they faced the world champions, Bazball faced ridiculously in the first Test of Ashes 2023.

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England made a bold call of declaring the innings in the very first day which ensured a result in the game. Ultimately, their aggressive approach backfired as England could only manage 273 in the second innings giving the visitors an easy target of 281 runs in the final innings. Some brilliance from Pat Cummins sealed a two-wicket victory for them which established a lead early on in the series for the Kangaroos. The same unfolded in the second Test as the aggressive approach from England is yielding them nothing but batting collapses.