Ashes 2019 | Jofra Archer’s fiery spell brought back memories of Ashes 2005, says Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting has said Jofra Archer's hostile spell against Australia at Lord's reminded him of the opening morning of the famous 2005 series at the same venue which had left him with a bloody cheek. England’s Steve Harmison also hit the Aussie openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer that day.
Archer’s spell on Saturday left Steve Smith on the ground after being struck on the back of his neck by a bouncer that clocked 92.4 miles per hour. As it turns out, the aggressive spell that seems to have woken up the Ashes series has also woken up Ponting’s memories from 14 years ago at the very same ground.
"That was a really fiery morning and last night brought back a few memories of what it was like. I remember when I got hit, I think 'Vaughny' (England captain Michael Vaughan) said to his players, 'no-one go and say a word to him and check if he is OK' Which was fine by me, because my eyes were going a bit as it was, so I reckon I would have told them to get away in no uncertain terms anyway!" Ponting told cricket.com.au.
However, Ponting refused to give-in to the widely held comment that the introduction of Archer is a turnaround moment in the series.
"I don't think it will be a series-defining spell. He has made 92 again. I know he'd made 70 or so before he copped that first knock ... and I wouldn't be surprised if they do attack him a bit more now," he said.
The former skipper rightly noted that despite all the drama, Smith will ride on the positive that Archer still didn’t get him out. After returning to bat within an hour after he left the field, Smith added 12 more runs to his account, before being dismissed by Chris Woakes.
"But the one thing I like is that Archer didn't get Smith out. Smithy got through it without losing his wicket. Assuming everything is OK with that blow in the neck, he'll front up and do it all again in the second innings. He (Smith) won't have any fear because it's just what you do every day. You face bowlers in the nets every day and you get hit every now and then. But certainly, nothing changes in your mindset," Ponting added.
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