Ricky Ponting takes a jibe at Kevin Pietersen for harsh remarks on Nathan Lyon

Legendary batter Ricky Ponting has come down hard on former Englishman Kevin Pietersen for the latter’s remarks on spinner Nathan Lyon. During the ongoing second Test between England and Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Pietersen deemed Lyon as someone, who lacked variations.

Pietersen had asked the English batters to go after Lyon during the Day-Night Test of the Ashes. In the Brits’ first innings, Lyon bowled 28 overs and conceded only 58 runs with 11 maidens to show for his efforts. The tweaker picked up the wickets of Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson.

Kevin Pietersen’s tweet

Can SOMEONE please smack Lyon?!?!! FFS!
Off spinner with zero variations and bowling on world crickets flattest road!!!! #Ashes

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) December 18, 2021

Later, Ponting stated that Lyon had got rid of Pietersen four times in his career. During the opening Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, Lyon also became the 17th bowler to pick up 400 wickets in Test cricket. Lyon is currently third in the list of all-time highest wicket-taker for the Aussies in the longest format.

Ricky Ponting reacts

Ponting said, “400 Test wickets, Kev. Lyon to Pietersen. Lyon got him four times for 163 runs and at the Adelaide Oval, the world‘s flattest cricket wicket, Kevin Pietersen, none for 14 off 23 balls with 15 dots and only one boundary. Come on, Kev.”

At a time when Lyon was bowling well in the Adelaide Test, Ponting heaped praises on him, calling him a ‘GOAT- Greatest of All Time’ for being at the top of his game. On the back of Lyon’s spell, the home team bowled the Three Lions out for 236.

“I wonder if Kev’s still watching. The GOAT’s just taken another one. This is high-class bowling, pushed him back. They left the field open on the off-side, inside edge back on the stumps. This is off-spin of the highest class,” Ponting said.

As far as the match was concerned, the hosts amassed a humongous lead of 237 runs in the first innings. Mitchell Starc was the pick of the Australian bowlers as he picked up four wickets in 16.1 overs. Cameron Green and Michael Neser also chipped in with a combined tally of three wickets.