Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting advised Indian skipper Virat Kohli to focus on off the field work in order to improve his captaincy.
Referring to the Kohli’s leadership skills on the aftermath of India’s disastrous tour of England that concluded with the 1-4 Test series defeat.
I didn’t watch every single ball of the Test series. For me what happens off the field is more important,” said the legendary skipper during an interaction with PTI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“On the field part like bowling changes and filed replacement is highly overrated. It is only about 30-40 percent and the rest of the preparations takes place behind closed doors before a match,” he added.
India next travel on a tour to Australia and talking about the series between two of the current best sides in world cricket, Ponting said that visitors’ success will depend much on how they adapt to the conditions in Australia.
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“It’s about adapting to the conditions here. Most of the visiting teams find it difficult to win here and that’s the way Test cricket has been for a long time in Australia. South Africa experienced the same. Similarly, we find it difficult to win in India and South Africa,” said the 43-year-old.
“We know in last 50 years India have struggled to win Test series away from home. For any team travelling to the UK playing against a team as good as England, it is going to be difficult.”
India travels to the Kangaroo Island after playing the West Indies in a two-match Test series at home. The three-month long tour that begins on November and ends on January 2019 will involve Four Tests, Three ODIs and Three T20 matches.
“For the upcoming series as far as India is concerned a lot will depend upon the wickets. If the ball seams a lot they will find it difficult in Australia. But if the wickets are flat like we saw some last year then it can bring India right into the contest,” added Ponting.
“We have seen how Indian batsmen have struggled against quality swing bowling in England. Similarly, we have struggled against spin in the subcontinent,” he said.
The two-time World Cup winning captain also praised Kohli but refused to compare the 29-year-old with Sachin Tendulkar. He said that Indian skipper still has a long way to go.
“Comparisons are hard to make at this stage of his (Kohli’s) career. You are being compared with someone who has played 200 Test matches. What you remember about Sachin is when he was finishing off. You don’t remember when he was in the mid-20s,” he said.
“Everyone is saying exceptional things about Virat (Kohli) now but let’s see if he can dominate international cricket for about 10, 12 or 15 years which would be a sign of a real champion player. Sachin did that in all three formats. If someone can play 200 Tests it’s incredible. I myself have played 168 Tests but 200 is something else,” Ponting added.
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