Melbourne: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is happy with the way the hosts have played their brand of cricket till now but believes that if India have a chance of victory it will be in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne starting Friday.
Trailing the four-match series 0-2, India lost a close opening match in Adelaide but were outplayed in the second game at Gabba. Ponting though opines that the MCG conditions might favour the visitors.
"If there is a game that they might win, it will be this one. With what is happening around the Australian team and the conditions here as well. The slow and flat wicket might suit them. So I will give them a little bit of chance," Ponting said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.
But the legendary batsman also said that Australia will start as favourites in third Test.
"If Australia go out there and play the brand of cricket that they have played then I find no problem in them getting the match over in four days," he said.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's aggressive approach in the Brisbane Test was a definite switch from his much-criticised defensive brand of leadership in the longer format and it sure did impress Ponting.
"If ever there has been criticism of Dhoni and the Indian cricket being too defensive. But I think that he has really showed signs of some aggressive cricket and good field placements. They should be more result oriented in their way of playing," he said.
"I think playing cricket in India they tend to drag the game a bit, but this sort of cricket does not work in Australia. You have to be really really proactive. They should be looking to finish the game in four days time and the teams that I have played in Australia are always looking to play a fast-paced game," he added.
