Ricky Ponting move backfires on Australia as Indian cricket legend sends dire new warning

While Ricky Ponting's comments about Virat Kohli weren't as disparaging as some in the Indian cricket community thought, there's no doubt the Aussie legend poked the bear and sparked a fire in the star batter. And Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has warned Australia they'll be "thrashed" if they back the tourists into a corner again.

Kohl finally broke out of his long slump with an unbeaten century in the second innings of the first Test in Perth. Before the stunning knock, the former captain hadn't made a Test century since July 2023.

Speaking ahead of the Test series, Ponting expressed his shock that Kohli was going through such a lean trot and appeared to suggest he didn't deserve his place in the side. "I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he's only scored [three] Test hundreds in the last five years," Ponting said. "That didn't seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that's a concern. There wouldn't be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that's only scored [three] Test match hundreds in five years."

However Ponting did predict Kohli would bounce back, adding: "I've said it before about Virat, you don't ever question the greats of the game. There's no doubt, he's a great of the game. He loves playing against Australia.

"In fact, I know he loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record (in Australia) is very good. If there's a time for him to turn it around, it'd be this series. So I wouldn't be surprised to see Virat make runs in the first game."

Sunil Gavaskar warns Australia about poking the Indian bear

Despite predicting Kohli to shine, many in India took Ponting's comments to be rather disparaging. Coach Gautam Gambhir told the Aussie legend to focus on his own team, and Gavaskar has now highlighted how it galvanised the tourists.

Gavaskar pointed to the Habhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds incident in Australia in 2008, and the fact the Aussie media questioned a catch taken by Suryakumar Yadav in T20 World Cup final. "Remember India's win at Perth in 2007/08 series came right after that controversy between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, which was followed by criticism from Australian media," Gavaskar told The Hindustan Times this week.

"So that win in Perth, and the win this time, it shows that each time Australian media goes against India ... now remember that Suryakumar Yadav catch in T20 World Cup final. There was so many things being written in the media in Australia question the legality of that catch. How can you sitting right here in Australia question if Suryakumar's feet touched the ground? That is why our team showed that we are a side [that] will thrash you in this series."

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Beau Webster to be called into Australia's Test squad

Australia have plenty to ponder after being destroyed by 295 runs in the first Test. Coach Andrew McDonald has flagged there won't be any changes despite calls for Marnus Labuschagne to be dropped amid a horror run of his own.

McDonald did leave the door open for Josh Inglis to come into the playing XI after being the reserve batter in Perth, and Beau Webster is also reportedly set to be called into the squad to cover a sore Mitch Marsh. The all-rounder bowled 17 overs in Perth and will be monitored ahead of the second Test in Adelaide starting next Friday.