'Why wouldn't they have had a look at that? They've still got the two reviews up their sleeve. There had to be some sort of doubt in that,' Ponting added
Sydney: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Sunday slammed Australia and Mitchell Starc in particular for not showing “no desperation” after Nathan Lyon had decided not to review the lbw decision against him on the fourth day of the fourth Test against India in Sydney.
Lyon was given out to Kuldeep Yadav after being rapped on the pads and when he asked non-striker Starc weather to consult DRS, Starc was undecided. The decision not to review the dismissal could not have been worse as Australia had two “challenges” remaining at that time with two wickets left and the spectre of follow on looming large.
At stumps on day four, Australia were bundled out for 300 in the first innings after which India enforced follow on. The hosts then came out to bat in the second innings, trailing by 322 runs.
India had piled up a mammoth 622 in their first innings.
"That dismissal actually says a lot to me about the mindset of this Australian team at the moment. There's no desperation there whatsoever," Ponting said on Channel Seven, one of the host broadcasters.
"Why wouldn't they have had a look at that? They've still got the two reviews up their sleeve. There had to be some sort of doubt in that," Ponting added.
The former three-time World Cup winning cricketer also slammed pacer Starc, who was at the non-stricker's end, for not intervening.
"Given out straight away and Mitchell Starc just puts his hand out and says 'oh well, it's not me, it's up to you to make (a call)".
"Well, unfortunately, when you're out there together it's a partnership. You've got to do whatever you can to try and save your mate. And there was absolutely none of that there," he added.
Replays suggested the ball would have probably struck Lyon outside the line of off stump and he may have been adjudged not out if DRS was taken.
"And as it's shown already that would have been given not out. Slack and not desperate enough. You can see where Mitchell Starc is standing at the non-striker's end," he added.
"One, look how wide he's standing. There's no need to be that wide in the first place. Nathan Lyon looks up, 'Oh what do you reckon?' 'Oh I don't know mate. Yeah I don't know. But let's not bother looking. We've only got two (reviews) up our sleeve," Ponting said.
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