Ponting makes bold call by predicting opener to debut against India

There has been a lot of conjecture regarding who will get the first chance against the new ball when India visits for the pivotal ICC World Test Championship series later this month, given that regular opener David Warner retired at the beginning of the season and Steve Smith returned to his preferred position at No. 4.

The Australia great has altered his decision, despite Ponting's recent statement that the Australians could start young opener Sam Konstas against India and give the Under 19 star his first appearance. Ponting stated Nathan McSweeney was now his first pick to take the position, slightly ahead of the bright Konstas, in an exclusive conversation with Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review. About a week ago, I was put on the position, and I kind of went straight to Sam Konstas, the young man. "Against South Australia, he had scored consecutive hundreds," Ponting remarked.