Ricky Ponting has once again proven that he is operating on a different level with another eerily accurate, Nostradumus-like prediction from the commentary box.
The Test’s second all-time leading run-scorer showed off his incredible knowledge of the game during Sydney Thunder’s match against the Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday night in Canberra.
David Warner, who is now Thunder captain, was facing his first pass from Matt Short when Ponting predicted he might opt to do the reverse sweep.
“I might try to do reverse sweeps from the start, against Matt Short,” Ponting said on Channel 7 commentary.
“The ball is moving away, he might try to turn around and take some right-footed shots.” There you go, first ball.
Lo and behold, Warner did exactly what Ponting predicted and crushed Short to the limit.
Ricky Ponting predicted the exact shot David Warner was about to take during the Big Bash on Tuesday in Canberra.
Unfortunately, Warner’s coup for the Thunder did not last long in their chase against the Adelaide Strikers.
Fans took to social media to praise the former Australian captain for his acumen.
“No one has read cricket better than the great Ricky Ponting… amazing,” one X user posted.
“Ricky Ponting probably has the highest IQ when it comes to cricket,” another replied.
Ponting went on to explain why he made the prediction about Warner.
‘The reason Matt Short bowled the first over is to try to get the ball away from the left-hander. “Davey understands that and this is a lot easier for him,” he said.
Unfortunately, Warner’s strike did not last long and it was up to his teammates to chase down the Strikers’ total.
Daniel Sams scored 31 runs off one more from Adelaide Strikers leg bowler Lloyd Pope to give Sydney Thunder an improbable two-wicket victory.
Sams’ latest heroics ended up eclipsing Sam Konstas smashing the fastest fifty in Thunder history.
Future international Sam Konstas (pictured) stunned on his Big Bash League debut, scoring a half-century off just 20 balls.
Sydney Thunder claimed an improbable two-wicket victory on Tuesday night in the ACT
Konstas scored 56 off 27 balls, reaching his milestone with just 20 balls, to eclipse the record of the towering Englishman Alex Hales (21 balls).
At just 19 years and 76 days, Konstas also became the youngest player to score a BBL half-century, eclipsing Jason Sangha’s record by 28 days.
He continues his impressive record at the ACT headquarters, having smashed a 90-ball century for the Prime Minister’s XI against India in early December.
After being catapulted into Test calculations this summer and eventually losing the vacant opening spot to Nathan McSweeney, Konstas proved he is a three-format prospect.
The right-handed opener fired from the first ball he faced, unleashing shots to all corners of the field.
In an exciting prospect for the BBL, there is a coming together of generations at the top of the Thunder order.
David Warner, who is leading the Thunder through this BBL campaign after his captaincy ban was recently overturned, is twice his starting partner’s age.
Warner said Konstas would not have played had veteran Nic Maddinson not been out with a finger injury, but confirmed the young gun was a “lock here now”.
“He wanted to take the first ball anyway,” the 38-year-old told Seven Network of Konstas.
‘That’s the beauty of playing with little kids.
“He’s at the top of his game, he’s really on form and that’s exciting.”