Blewett expects huge summer from Ponting as captain

SYDNEY - Former Australian batsman Greg Blewett has backed Ricky Ponting as captain for next month’s Ashes despite Australia losing three Tests in a row and slumping to fifth in the world rankings for the first time in their history.

Blewett acknowledges that Australia will be “down on confidence” following their 2-0 defeat against India, but insists that sticking with the tried and tested is the only way to topple England.

“India is a pretty tough place to captain and I didn’t see any real glaring errors from Ricky. I read Warnie’s Twitter thing, in which he questioned some of the field placements. But I agreed with what Ricky said - these days, not too many bowlers bowl to fields that they don’t want,” Fox Sports quoted Blewett, as saying.

“I always thought a young, inexperienced team playing in India was going to struggle against the No.1-ranked Test team. We nearly won the first Test - and we should have.”

“Unfortunately at times during both Tests, after getting in good positions, they let things slip. But I really don’t have any problem with his captaincy - I am expecting a huge summer from the Australia captain,” he added.

When asked if ‘out of form’ off-spinner Nathan Hauritz should be dropped for the series, Blewett said: “To be fair, the Indians play offies as good as anyone in the world so I think he was always up against it. Some of best spinners have gone to India and they were all averaging 40 plus - so it’s not just Haurie.”

“My biggest concern was with the way he was bowling, I just don’t think he bowled well enough coming back from an injury. Last year he showed he was good enough. For this series I’d still have Hauritz in my XI for every Test after Brisbane,” he added.

Hauritz had a bowling average of 65 and an economy rate of 4.33 in the two Tests in India. (ANI)