Ricky Ponting has warned England they will be better off talking about the Ashes than trying to stick to an impossible embargo on the ‘A’ word.
Ponting will be in England for the start of this summer’s Ashes, after signing for Surrey, and the ex-Australia captain has arrived with some early advice for the hosts.
The man generations of England supporters loved to hate, but surely deep down respected and feared in their thousands, hopes Michael Clarke’s tourists will prove tougher opponents than many anticipate once the urn is at stake again in July and August.
Before then, with the small matter of the Champions Trophy set to take place first, England have reportedly signed up to an in-house code of silence about their Ashes plans and prospects.
Whether it be in private over dinner or broadcasting to the world, however, Ponting senses any attempt to make the main business of the summer a banned topic will simply be self-defeating – for both teams.
“You can guarantee at different times they’ll have conversations about it,” said Ponting, a veteran of four consecutive Ashes tours but resigned to a spectator role for the first time since 1993 after his international retirement six months ago.
“It’s inevitable it’s going to come up. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
England first have the opportunity to break their duck in an International Cricket Council 50-over global trophy, and will begin that campaign against Australia too.
Ponting does not expect the Ashes to be dominating discussions then, but suspects England captain Alastair Cook and Test coach Andy Flower – like their counterparts Clarke and Mickey Arthur – will still spare more than the odd thought for the Test series.
“When you turn up to play a Champions Trophy game, the last thing on your mind is what’s going to happen in the Ashes,” he said.
“The Australian team will be saying the same thing – but I guarantee at different times during the Champions Trophy, Mickey and Michael will be talking about Ashes cricket at some stage.”
Ponting was buoyed by Australia’s bowling attack.
“I think the bowling group we’ve got at the moment will bowl well in these conditions,” he said.
“I think as far as groups of fast bowlers I’ve seen probably in the last 10 years, this current group would probably be as exciting as any.
“I’m really looking forward to the contest. I think it will be a fantastic series.”
