Ponting: Weatherald won't "survive at Test level" with current technique

Ricky Ponting has taken aim at Australia’s Ashes selectors saying he still can’t figure out why Josh Inglis got the nod over Beau Webster through the Ashes.

A week ago, Webster admitted he had been disappointed to miss selection for the first four Tests against England in a series the Aussies dominated and eventually won 4-1.

The 32-year-old did everything right in the lead up to the first Test including an impressive half century in the WTC Final, but fellow all-rounder Cameron Green was given the nod in Perth before Inglis played Brisbane and Adelaide.

It was not until the final match in Sydney that Webster was given the chance to show what they had been missing and he didn’t miss the opportunity, scoring an unbeaten 71 as well as taking three wickets.

So, what was it that selectors saw and what does the future hold for him?

“At the start I was surprised they went with Inglis ahead of Beau,” Ponting told SEN Tassie.

“With the selectors, I know they look very deeply into data with these things. There must have been something there, a metric and Inglis must have better numbers.

“But I can’t figure out how they did that to be honest.

“I was surprised but every time I see Beau play he just continues to put forward a case as to why he should be in the side.

“Now we know an opportunity has come up at No. 5 with Usman Khawaja not there. I can’t see any world in which Travis Head doesn’t continue as opener, so maybe it’s Beau’s chance to grab that No 5 spot.

“He may not be the flashiest or the most stylish, but he’s a gamer. He knows what has to happen in situations, ball or field. It will be hard to leave him out going forward.”

Despite Australia dominating the series, a number of players should not be included in the squad to go over to England next year.

Ponting said it’s time Cam Green and Jake Weatherald make changes or prepare to be ditched for the youth.

“Even though Green’s numbers are dwindling, I can’t see them making a change on him.

“He will go back to Shield cricket and dominate but not necessarily become a better player.

“There’s only so long they can stick with him; Beau is coming as the all-rounder and young boys coming through domestic cricket.

“I got asked during the Sydney Test what I would do for the 2027 Ashes and I have Campbell Kellaway and Ollie Peake in that touring squad, but I would have them in straight away.

“20 Test matches out from that series, let them play to learn and see if they’re good enough to stand up to international level. That way if you get 10 Tests in and you find out they’re not then you have 10 Tests to look around for others.”

When it comes to Weatherald, Ponting says big changes are needed after the 31-year-old playing in all five Tests, scoring 2-1 runs with an average of 22.3

“For mine his stance and technical issues he is not going to survive doing what he’s doing now at the highest level,” Ponting said.

“In that series he struggled with full straight ball and with the more direct short ball. You don’t survive at Test level with this. This is all to do with stance, it’s way too wide. When you face 145+ and you don’t have the extra yard you’re in real trouble.

“If I was a selector, I would say to him: ‘we love what you bring but you have four Shield games to prove you can change stance and technique. If you can do that we will give you another go. If you can’t change what we saw in the Ashes then it might be time to move on’.”