Follow UsRicky Ponting has lashed out at Ollie Robinson for mentioning his name as a reference to justify his send-off to Usman Khawaja in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
The former Aussie skipper reckons the right-arm seamer needs to back up with skills after his send-off created a bit of a stir on social media. While Ponting did not comment on the incident during his commentary stint, he shared his views on ICC Review Podcast.
"As I said after Ollie Robinson, this England cricket team hasn't played against Australia, and they'll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about. And if Robinson hasn't learned that already after last week, then he's a slow learner," Ponting said.
Earlier, Robinson was asked about his gesture in a press conference, and the right-arm seamer was quick to suggest that Ponting and the Aussie players in their playing days used to do the same.
"We've all seen Ricky Ponting and other Aussies do the same to us. Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it's not received well," Robinson said.
The 48-year-old was visibly disappointed with the comments and feels he will need to produce dominant performances on the field along with all sledging.
"Some of the things he had to say, I mean, he even brought my name into it, which I felt was a little bit unusual. But for me, it's water off a duck's back. If he is sitting back thinking about me, then no wonder he bowled like the way that he did in that game if he's worried about what I did 15 years ago."
"He'll learn pretty quickly that if you're going to talk to Australian cricketers in an Ashes series, then you want to be able to back it up with your skills."
Ponting also questioned if England are really 'not result driven' after Ben Stokes and his team were disappointed after losing a nail-biting clash in Birmingham.
"I've heard them say that before, that they're not 'results driven', but I don't believe that for a second. This is an Ashes series; this is the biggest challenge that Ben Stokes has had in his career as a captain.
"I'm not copping that. I mean, if they're not results driven, they wouldn't be disappointed at all about losing. And it seemed to me last night, and he said it, that all his players were in pieces at the end of that game. So that means to me that they do care about losing, and you should.
"Winning Test matches is not an easy thing to do, and winning an Ashes Test is not easy. You don't want to be giving good cricket teams opportunities back into a game of Ashes cricket when you're in control of the game. England were in control of the game late on day one. So England presented Australia with an opportunity, and Australia made the most of it," he concluded.
The second Ashes Test will begin on Wednesday, June 28, at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.