Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting have not been in total agreement in that frame of mind up to the World Test Championship Final among India and Australia and that didn’t change the slightest bit when play started on Day 1 at The Oval. The legendary skipper of Australia harshly criticized Rohit’s decision to play an extra seamer instead of premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a day after he rejected Ponting’s claim that the conditions gave Australia a slight advantage.

Rohit said that it was hard to leave Ashwin out, but they had to do what was “best for the team” given the pitch and the cloudy weather after choosing to bowl. Ravindra Jadeja was selected as India’s sole spin-bowling all-rounder, with Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav selected as the four quicks.

Ponting said India picked a team only for the first innings.

“India have fallen into the trap of picking an attack for the first inning of this Test match only,”

Ponting said during commentary in the first session.

‘Ashwin would’ve bowled better than Jadeja in 2nd innings’: Ponting

The former captain of Australia was absolutely certain that Ashwin would have bowled better than Jadeja during the course of the Test match, particularly with regard to the four left-handed batsmen that Australia has in their batting lineup.

“The reason why I was surprised that Ashwin was left out is because of the number of left-handers Australia have. There’s no doubt in my mind that Ashwin would have bowled a lot better than Jadeja later on in the Test. The big decision that they had to make was between Thakur and Umesh. I was leaning towards Thakur because he would be my workhorse to give a bit of a break to the strike bowlers Shami and Siraj. You can go to Jadeja for a couple of overs just to tie the game down a bit,”

he added.

India bowled too short with the new ball: Ponting, Karthik

Dinesh Karthik and Ponting were also critical of the lengths that Shami, Siraj, Shardul, and Umesh, India’s pace bowlers, bowled with the new ball. The best bowler was Siraj, who also bowled Usman Khawaja out for a duck. The others bowled too short or in the wrong direction.

“It always looks good because they are pretty bowls but the one that gets you the wickets is the one pitched in the 5-meter mark,”

said Karthik.

“If India had bowled really well then 60% would have been on the fuller side and 20% on a good length. I made a point earlier, the bowlers will have to accept that they are gonna get driven every now and then. What the captain can do is maybe have his mid-off and mid-on straighter and deeper which just gives the bowlers encouragement to pitch it up,”

Ponting added.

David Warner, on the other hand, appeared to be the best Australian batter. When Umesh Yadav entered the attack, he gutted it out despite Khawaja’s early wicket and Siraj’s trying spell. He then slowly started to attack. The gloved one down the leg side for 43 against Shardul Thakur just as the left-hander appeared poised for a big one.

Marnus Labuschagne (26*) and Steve Smith (1*) were in the crease for Australia on Day 1 and Australia finished the day at 73/2.