Twitter Reactions ASHES 2023

'Bumrah is shivering' - Fans react as Ricky Ponting compares Mark Wood to prime years of Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee

The former Australian captain Ricky Ponting compared Mark Wood to Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee at their prime

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Mark Wood, Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee (Source: Twitter)

Ashes Mark Wood, Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee (Source: Twitter)

The inclusion of Mark Wood has been fruitful for England in the third Test of Ashes 2023 against Australia. The express pacer was not just fiery with the ball but was also useful with the bat in both innings. In the first innings, Wood scored 24(8) including a boundary and 3 sixes. In the second innings, the 33-year-old scored an unbeaten 16(8) and finished the chase for England.

While Wood's batting was adventurous, it was his bowling that was desperately needed for England. In the first two Test matches, England lacked a genuine pacer who could have made the difference. The average speed of the bowlers in the first two Tests showed why Australia was 2-0 before the Headingley Test.

Wood returned to the side and bowled a brutal spell in the first innings. Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja looked clueless against the pace of Wood. The express pacer got the big wicket of Khawaja in the first innings and helped his side to clean up the tail quickly in both innings. Wood was fun to watch with his rapid pace.

'Wood is a bit like Johnson and Lee in their prime' - Ponting

Talking about his impact on the side in the third Test, the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that Wood is a bit like Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee in their prime. The former Australian captain compared the intensity of Wood with that of the former Australian pacers, who were also his teammates.

Johnson and Lee were deadly in their prime days. Johnson was so good that batters shivered to face him in Ashes 2013. Lee was consistently bowling at over 150 kmph in his prime with great accuracy. Together, they were nearly unplayable. Wood is as quick as the two former Australian quicks were compared by Ponting.

The fourth Test of the series is set to be played from the 19th to the 23rd of July in Old Trafford, Manchester. Australia currently leads the series 2-1 against the home side. A win or even a draw is enough for the visiting side to retain the Ashes.

Here's how the fans reacted to Ponting's statement:

Ricky Ponting Twitter Reactions Australia vs England Ashes