Ponting calls for Russell reinvention

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has called for Sydney Thunder star Andre Russell to reinvent himself after his struggles against the short ball continued in the KFC Big Bash League on Wednesday night.

Russell was out for eight in the Thunder’s three-wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat at Spotless Stadium, miscuing a powerful drive to be caught on the long-off rope by Joe Burns.

But it was the dynamic allrounder’s problems with the short ball during his innings that alerted Ponting – a master of the pull and hook shot during his glittering career – to a weakness that opponents are exploiting.

"You have to be able to reinvent yourself as a player," Ponting said on Channel Ten Sport.

"Every team picked this (short-ball weakness) up on Andre Russell last year, and he hasn't changed. Nothing's changed. And they're going to attack him even more in that region this season.

"We've already seen in game three he could have been out three times to a similar delivery."

After only landing in Australia a couple of days out from the season opener between the Thunder and Sixers, Russell was out caught behind to Doug Bollinger after backing away and edging his cut stroke.

Two days later, he was bowled for two when he missed a full-blooded pull shot to a back-of-a-length delivery from Melbourne Renegades ace spinner Sunil Narine.

And it’s Russell’s struggles with the pull shot that has Ponting alarmed.

"I was watching him warm-up, his technique to play a good pull shot is not ideal," Ponting said.

"He's obviously a power player, he looks to get his weight forward on that big front leg of his and just swing as hard as he can across to the leg side.

"But his weight is actually going forward, and he's trying to hit a pull shot. That's not the ideal set-up for the perfect pull shot.

"The other thing he can do is just not play it, just not play that pull shot for the first couple of overs that he's out there.

"Teams will attack him that way but he will only get out if he looks to play a big flat-batted shot either to the leg-side or, like game one, try and hit a big cut shot down to third man.

"He looks a little bit out of sorts with the bat."

Russell had a stunning BBL season last year, taking 16 wickets and clobbering 185 runs at strike rate of 186.87 in the Thunder’s championship campaign.

But three games into BBL|06, he has scored just 19 runs and captured three wickets as the Thunder sit rooted to the bottom of the ladder.

The 28-year-old’s right leg was heavily strapped last night and he was seen limping at different stages, pulling up short in his follow through several times.

Russell has been in the headlines for using a black bat, which was banned after it left the white Kookaburra ball discoloured against the Sixers.

Modifications have been made and the black bat returned last night, but it didn’t bring an end to his poor run of form.

"He's looked rusty, he's looked rusty all three games to be honest," Australia selector and Channel Ten commentator Mark Waugh said.

"I’m not sure how much cricket he has been playing, but he just doesn't look like he’s got any confidence or rhythm in his batting at the moment."

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