12 August,2022 10:53 PM IST | New Delhi | IANS
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. File Pic/AFP
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels that the pinnacle of Test match cricket will be actual rivalry between India and Pakistan as Ashes is for England and Australia.
Ponting played in a lot of big matches at major tournaments during his career, with the rivalry between Australia and England during the Ashes the greatest he experienced. He relished the extra demands that went with those clashes.
"To be totally honest it's one that we've been starved of, haven't we? looking back at the last 15 or 20 years," Ponting said in the latest episode of The ICC Review.
"As a cricket lover like I am and a cricket observer, any time those sorts of battles come up it's almost always nice to sit back and watch because everything just goes up a notch, doesn't it?," he added.
ALSO READ
Curtly Ambrose picks three modern day greats he would love to bowl to
What makes Jasprit Bumrah stand out from other bowlers?
"He’s a nightmare!": Ricky Ponting hails lead Indian pacer Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has been best multi-format bowler for last 5-6 years: Ricky Ponting
David Warner signs two-year contract with Sydney Thunder
Notably, India and Pakistan haven't played each other at Test level since they fought out a high-scoring draw in Bengaluru in 2007, with Sourav Ganguly's 239 making headlines.
Also Read: Dil Se Desi: Indian origin cricketers who played for other countries
There is still an outside chance the two nations could meet again in the final of the ICC World Test Championship next year and Ponting would love to see the rivalry grow even further with the addition of more red-ball cricket.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan is one of cricket's biggest. Asked how this already great rivalry would be even further strengthened, the Australian suggested about Test cricket.
"When I think about rivalries, Australia and England and Ashes cricket is the pinnacle I've always thought of for our Test match game," Ponting noted.
"I'm sure India and Pakistanis will say the same about that and the actual rivalry would be the pinnacle of Test match cricket for those two countries as well," he added.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
