Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting feels Ben Stokes hasn’t looked like the physically aggressive presence that opposition teams have feared due to his ultra-defensive approach in the ongoing Ashes series.

Ponting also slammed England skipper Joe Root, Stokes and Jos Buttler for the manner of their dismissals in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test which the two-time World Cup winning captain believes was inexcusable. England are 0-2 down in the marquee showdown between the traditional rivals. “He’s looked ultra-defensive. He hasn’t looked like the big, physically aggressive presence at the crease that opposition teams have feared to bowl to in other series,” said Ponting.