Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has claimed that England’s baseball philosophy was created with one goal in mind: to win the Ashes in Australia, while accusing the team of being dishonest in the way they publicly talk about their style and their results.
Ponting told 7NEWS that England’s aggressive approach led by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes was always about conquering the Australian conditions, even as the team wrapped it up as a long-term revolution.
“They’re a side that’s been together for two years (from the 2023 Ashes) and they’re building on that,” Ponting said. “Baseball, as far as I’m concerned, and I know Brendon fairly well, was only designed for this one series.
“Forget everything that has happened in the last two years, it was all about having a group together and a style of play that can stand up and win Test matches in Australia.
“They’ve only done it four times in the last 25 years and they’ll need to do it at least three times this summer, so I can’t wait to see how they play.”
TACTICS EVOLVE SLOWLY
When McCullum first took over in 2022, England adopted an ultra-aggressive style of playscoring at high speeds and attempting unconventional shots in unusual parts of the ground. It gave them brief periods of dominance but produced inconsistent results.
Ponting believes England have softened their approach since failing to win the 2023 Ashes at home.
“I think it’s changed a little bit,” he said. “In the beginning it was a lot more reckless than it is now. I think they identify moments better now.
“I don’t think Joe Root takes it as much as he does. I don’t think Ben Stokes takes the whole Bazball thing as much as he probably did at the beginning of it, but their openers do. And Ollie Pope tries to do that too. That’s why I think their openers are so important.”
AUSTRALIA EXPECTS THE SAME
The 2023 Ashes began with a moment that defined England’s intent. Australia set deep point back for the first ball at Edgbaston and Zak Crawley drove it through cover for four. Ponting expects England to maintain that attitude this summer.
“I don’t think they’re going to change. I’ve seen enough of them over the last two years to know they’re going to play the same,” he said.
“Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley will play the same way they have always played.
“If they can, England will win the toss and bowl and come back to score more runs in the fourth innings than the opposition have in the first innings. That won’t change.”
“And when you talk about Baseball and the style of play the way you have the last couple of years, you can’t suddenly just not do it. You have to keep doing it.”
Ponting added that this predictability presents opportunities for Australia.
“That’s one area Australia can focus on. Knowing they have to be ultra-aggressive, you can set different fields and use different tactics to make them and their egos come at you during a Test match.”
RHETORIC REFUSES CRITICISM
Ponting also questioned the way England players defend their methods in the media, calling it a tactic to avoid negativity.
“A lot of the things they say in the media deflect any negativity that comes their way,” he said. “It’s almost like they’re trying to put a force field between themselves and their team.
“The whole thing about not caring if they lose is bullshit. You don’t play that you don’t care if you win or lose.”
Ponting said England’s public reporting lacked the candor that defined champions Australia.
“We were honest with ourselves and each other. They’re not like that,” he said.
“Everybody makes mistakes and you lose some games because you’re not good enough or you make bad decisions at different times. I don’t see what’s wrong with talking about that.”
“I think they would talk like that inside the locker room, but not when they’re out in public.
“That’s just trying to stop the negative headlines hitting them. One day they’re going to be fired for 100 and say they’re going to go even harder tomorrow. Rightia, we’ll see.”
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 19, 2025
