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Harry Brook banned from IPL for two years

14 Mar 25

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting lauded England’s Mark Wood calling him an “absolute strike weapon” compared to Australia greats Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.

“(Wood) is a bit like him (Johnson) and a bit like Brett Lee in his prime I reckon as well. Bowling first change, bowling quickly, intimidating batsmen, getting a little bit of movement when it was there. He is just an absolute strike weapon,” said Ponting.

Ponting also said that England should use him to unsettle new batters at the crease.

“I think the biggest challenge is getting him through the next couple of games. I know he said after Headingley that he got through I think three Test matches in a row in Australia in the last Ashes series and did it OK,” 

“The challenge for him is going to be if he keeps his pace at that sort of mid-90 miles an hour because they're like those guys that you know he's not overly tall, he's quite skiddy and when they're not at their absolute top pace-wise they can be quite easy to face,” 

“They don't get steep bounce, they skid onto the bat and they don't have a lot of movement, but if he can keep his pace up at the absolute top like it was at Leeds then he's going to be really dangerous for the Aussies that's for sure,” he added.

Wood missed first two matches due to injury concerns, he appeared in third Test and allowed England to bowl Australia out for 263 in the first innings at Headingley.