"It was rubbish": Ricky Ponting tears into Indian bowling attack in Manchester Test

Two days into the fourth Test and the visitors have been kept on the back foot for the entirety of the fixture so far. Unlike the first three India vs England Tests where the guests managed to claim a semblance of dominance, the Manchester Test is flying largely out of India's grasp. Rishabh Pant headlined Day 2 with his fighting spirit as he came out to bat with his injured leg. Pant's tenacious fifty pushed India to manage a total of 358 before England bundled them out in the second session. However, the 358 started appearing utterly inadequate as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett went all guns blazing against the Indian bowling attack. It was not a case of Bazball flourishing but India floundering at Old Trafford.

Ricky Ponting slams India's bowling tactics on Day 2 of the Manchester Test

The former Australian captain shredded India's bowling tactics to pieces at the conclusion of Day 2 of the fourth India vs England Test. Put to bat first, the visitors managed to post 358 on the board, propelled by the half-centuries of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and an injured but still impactful Rishabh Pant. The fight by the batters, however, was quickly undermined by the bowling attack. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett accumulated runs at a rate of 5.00 against the Indian bowlers.

The new ball was handed to Anshul Kamboj, who partnered with Jasprit Bumrah. Bowling his first over in the Indian Test whites, Kamboj took some time before finding the right lengths. The newcomer was hit for three boundaries in his opening over as the English openers found just the mojo they wanted. In his analysis of India's bowling attack following the end of the day's play, Ricky Ponting didn't mince his words. The former Australian skipper questioned why Mohammed Siraj didn't gain access to the new ball.

Ponting highlighted the impact that Siraj has made across the India vs England series, criticising the move to hand the new ball to Kamboj instead of the seasoned prospect. Furthermore, the Kangaroo laid bare the shortcomings in the bowling plans. Ponting noted that the Indian bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, kept missing their lengths, offering the English opening pair the kind of leniency they would have liked right at the start of the innings.

“I think we heard it when we were waiting to come out just before the break, what Ravi Shastri said. It was rubbish. They just missed their areas," Ricky Ponting said. "I'm not sure what they were expecting out of the surface, but I was surprised that they actually went with (Anshul) Kamboj ahead of (Mohammed) Siraj with the new ball to start with, knowing what impact Siraj has had on this series so far, and knowing how important the start of England's batting innings is. You know they're going to come out and play their shots."

"I think they had to go to their best and most experienced bowlers. They got off to a flyer, way too straight to Duckett, so many boundaries square of the wicket on the leg side. You know you can't bowl there," he added.

Furthermore, in his analysis, Ponting pointed out that Bumrah bowled from the wrong end. The seasoned former captain highlighted that most of the wickets in the Manchester Test have fallen from the Statham End. However, Bumrah was placed at the Anderson End for his spell. After highlighting a barrage of loops in India's tactics against English batting, Ponting suggested for the group to come together and discuss where they faltered on Day 2. With Akash Deep injured, India has planned its way around injuries to mould the attack for the Manchester Test. It remains to be seen if the scenario stays the same in the upcoming matches as well.

“I think they were tactically off as well. Kamboj shouldn't have taken the new ball. I didn’t like that from the start. Five of Duckett’s first six boundaries were behind square leg, so tactically they were wrong,” Ponting said. “I think Bumrah is bowling from the wrong end. Most of the wickets have fallen from the Statham End, and he’s done most of his work bowling from the Anderson End,” he added.

"So they've got some work to do now. They've got to get together at the break and work out how they're going to bowl to try and slow the scoring down, but then also work out how they're going to get these two out," Ponting concluded.

England finished Day 2 of the fourth India vs England Test at 225 for 2. Despite his wayward bowling in the opening spell, Kamboj found his rhythm towards the conclusive phase of the day. The youngster claimed a thick edge off Ben Duckett, dismissing the opener just six runs short of a ton. Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja brought the first breakthrough for his team, dismissing Zak Crawley at 84 as England's opening stand finally broke at 166.