Ricky Ponting , the former captain of Australia, has urged Ollie Robinson to demonstrate his skills in order to support his words, following the England seamer’s reference to Ponting’s past sledging as a player to justify his send-off to Usman Khawaja during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
During the third morning of the Test, Robinson dismissed Khawaja for 141 as Khawaja forcefully attempted to drive the ball through the off side, resulting in the ball knocking back his off stump. Robinson expressed his jubilation by shouting towards Khawaja.
Ricky Ponting had remained tightlipped on the subject on commentary for Sky Sports for the remainder of the Test, but delivered some stern words to Robinson on ICC Review Podcast on Wednesday.
“As I said after Ollie Robinson said what he said, this England cricket team hasn’t played against Australia, and they’ll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about,” Ponting said. “And if Robinson hasn’t learned that already after last week, then he’s a slow learner.”
In a tense press conference after the third day’s play, reporters questioned the 29-year-old pace bowler about it, and he responded by saying he “doesn’t care” how Australia might perceive his actions and that he is “here to provide… that theatre of the game.”
Robinson had even referenced Ponting during the same interaction, going to justify his actions citing the example of the former Australia captain.
“We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting, [and] other Aussies do the same to us,” Robinson said. “Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it’s not received well.”
But Ponting shot back at Robinson, saying the latter would “learn pretty quickly” what it means to prick the Australians in an Ashes series.