Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised Beau Webster’s crucial knock of 70 runs in Australia’s first innings of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s on June 12. Webster’s innings helped Australia post 212 runs against South Africa’s bowling attack, while the Proteas ended Day 1 at 43/4.Webster, who made his Test debut against India in Sydney earlier this year, scored 72 off 92 balls as Australia’s top scorer in challenging conditions.“You take those 70 odd runs out, that scorecard looks a whole lot different. I think that says a lot about how comfortable he is in his own game right now and even the comfort he has of being in the Australian middle order,” Ponting told ICC Digital after Australia’s first innings.
Ponting further commended Webster’s approach despite Australia being in trouble. “The thing I liked about that today was, although Australia were in a little bit of trouble, wickets were falling… (Webster) was able to go out there and maintain his own natural style of play and play the way that he wanted to play and try and be aggressive and try and put some pressure back on the South African bowlers,” he said.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?Former captain Steve Smith contributed with 66 runs in just under three hours at the crease, while wicketkeeper Alex Carey added 23 runs to the total.South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada led the bowling attack with figures of 5/51, helping dismiss Australia for 212.“The other thing (is that) although the wicket was doing something and we know the Dukes ball will do something early June in the UK, it just goes to show that if you do get in and get set like Smith and and Beau did that regardless of the conditions you can still make some big scores,” Ponting added.Australia’s pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins struck back late on Day 1, reducing South Africa to 43/4 at stumps.
