‘Ordinary’ wicket-keeping proved costly for England, says Ponting

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says England have a lot of questions to answer after the first Test defeat to Australia at Edgbaston.

Australia captain Pat Cummins sealed a remarkable two-wicket victory for his side over England in a thrilling climax to a gripping five-day battle in the opening Ashes Test on Tuesday. 

Ponting suggested that Jonny Bairstow's wicket-keeping errors were one of the main reasons England lost the first Test.

"As far as I'm concerned now, England have more questions to answer than Australia. On their style of play, but also now looking at that first Test, they've got some selection issues that they're going to have to deal with as well. 

"Jonny Bairstow actually had a very ordinary game behind the stumps. There's about four chances that he put down. And on flat wickets, if they want flat wickets, you cannot afford your keeper to be making mistakes.

"If you look at those mistakes by themselves, some people might say those mistakes could have cost them the Test match. Those are things they have to answer. Whereas Australia, because they've won the game, they'll have to answer a lot fewer questions."

England's 'Bazball' style was on full display in the first Ashes Test, with the English batters taking aggressive approaches in both innings, some experimental field setting used throughout, and Stokes declaring on the first evening.

And Ponting believes the defeat will put increased pressure on England ahead of the second Test at Lord's.

"I think it's going to be a really, really good test for England. Actually, I think it's going to be a good test for their style of play. I think it's going to be a good test for their leadership and their coaching. 

"I said on commentary last night that, after day one, everyone was saying that Australia were negative, Australia had lots of questions to answer, how have Australia got to combat what England are doing? But Australia won the game."