Ben Stokes’s aggressive presence missing: Ricky Ponting

Ben Stokes

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting feels Ben Stokes hasn't looked like the physically aggressive presence that opposition teams have feared due to his ultra-defensive approach in the ongoing Ashes series.

Ponting also slammed England skipper Joe Root, Stokes and Jos Buttler for the manner of their dismissals in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test which the two-time World Cup winning captain believes was inexcusable. England are 0-2 down in the marquee showdown between the traditional rivals. "He's looked ultra-defensive. He hasn't looked like the big, physically aggressive presence at the crease that opposition teams have feared to bowl to in other series," said Ponting.

"You can understand why - the batting conditions haven't been easy in any game and he's coming up against some good bowlers," he added. Ponting feels the insipid performance by fellow England batters has put more pressure on Stokes. "He's probably going into the game knowing that it's so important that he scores runs in that number five slot that he might be trying a little bit too hard," said Ponting.

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