Aaron Finch didn’t get off to the best of starts in his maiden Test at home in Adelaide. He managed scores of 0 and 11 in the Test match. However, after a practice session with the great Ricky Ponting, Finch scored a half-century in the first innings of the second Test against India.
Ponting, who struggled against a young Ishant Sharma in 2008, understood what Finch was going through. The former captain asked Finch to cover his off-stump and align himself better while playing the inswinging delivery.
“It was basically around covering my off stump and lining up slightly different my alignment, where I want to hit the ball, with the ball swinging back in obviously,” Finch told ESPNCricinfo when asked about Ponting’s advice.
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“Ishant troubled him a little bit at the start of his career in Australia, troubled Punter (Ponting), moving the ball back in I think, so it was good to have someone to chat to who’s had to work through that and alignment and things like that. It wasn’t anything I went out in the game with as such, it was more just moving my guard slightly further over.”
Ponting said that he is a little uncomfortable helping players but if the players are up for it and if the former captain thinks he can help then he certainly will give advice to the players.
{{/usCountry}}Ponting said that he is a little uncomfortable helping players but if the players are up for it and if the former captain thinks he can help then he certainly will give advice to the players.
{{/usCountry}}“I spoke with Justin (Langer) after the game in Adelaide and he invited me down yesterday. I must admit I’m always a little uncomfortable doing it, but as long as the players are open to it and I can go and feel like I can help out I certainly will,” Ponting said on Channel Seven during the lunch break.