- Ricky Ponting made an eerily accurate prediction
- He called a wicket just before it happened
- Australia took on West Indies at the Gabba on Thursday
Cricket fans have praised Ricky Ponting’s expert insight after the Australian made an eerily accurate prediction on Thursday.
The world’s second all-time top scorer in Test showed his incredible knowledge of the game towards the end of day one between Australia and West Indies at the Gabba.
As Josh Hazlewood stormed in for the day’s final, West Indian duo Kevin Sinclair and Alzarri Joseph tried to keep their partnership intact.
Sinclair, on debut and at the non-striker’s end, was more than happy to see his partner look out over the last few balls, firmly refusing the chance for a single when the opportunity presented itself.
“Sinclair was in no hurry,” James Brayshaw laughed on the commentary.
Ricky Ponting made an eerily accurate prediction during the Australia Test at the Gabba
He called a wicket just before it happened on Thursday night
“He thinks to himself, ‘This is my first Test match, I like the view from here (the non-striker’s end)’.”
Ponting also joked, “He actually had a stop sign. The stop sign was up and he yelled “no” about eight times.
But then Ponting presented his metaphorical crystal ball and imparted cricketing wisdom to the viewers at home.
“I hate to say it, for the sake of the West Indies, but normally this game has a way of letting things like that out,” Ponting said again ahead of his run-up.
Lo and behold, Joseph tapped Hazlewood behind Steve Smith in the slip, and he made no mistake in holding the ball.
“Well, I didn’t want to say it, but I did – he (Joseph) should have been on the other side; there was only one,’ Ponting reflected.
“That’s actually the second time today that West Indies have lost a wicket thanks to a play between the wickets.”
Fans took to Twitter, now known as X, to praise the former Australia captain.
“How often do you hear Ponting make an assessment that comes true almost immediately,” said a fan. ‘One of the best cricket commentators working today.’
Another said: ‘Ponting plays chess while the rest of us play checkers.’