Australia produced an emphatic performance in the first Ashes Test, with their skipper Pat Cummins emerging a hero with the bat on the final day to secure a two-wicket win for the side. Following the loss, questions were raised over England’s approach in the game, with many fans criticising Ben Stokes’ aggressive declaration call on Day 1.

Ben Stokes had said following the loss –

“I saw (the declaration) as an opportunity to pounce on Australia. No one likes to go out for 20 minutes at the back end of a day.” Stokes had decided to declare the English innings at 393/8, primarily to invite the Australian openers to bat through the final 20 minutes of the day’s play.

In hindsight, though, it did seem that the decision cost England and Ex-AUS skipper Ricky Ponting raised questions over England’s “style of play.”

Ricky Ponting said on Sky Sports – “I think England have got the most questions to answer. Their style of play, is it going to hold up in an Ashes series? By no means am I saying that England’s method is wrong, I have loved watching them play, but it just goes to show there is more than one way to skin a cat.”

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Ponting furhter said –

“This is a long and hard game. Australia’s method has stood up and it has worked. I want this series to be played the same way and I know Ben and Brendon will play the same way, which adds even more to next week.”