Ricky Ponting says he would like to bring Shane Warne back for one more Ashes series if he could

The Ashes series is one of the best cricketing events in history. Starting way back in 1882 after Australia decimating England in a series. The mythical ashes immediately became linked with the 1882–83 series played in Australia before which the English captain Ivo Bligh had sworn to “regain those ashes”. The English media, therefore, dubbed the tour a quest to regain the Ashes.

Since then, players from both sides have given something extra when they have met in the Ashes and these series have produced something special every time. In recent history, be it Ian Botham’s Ashes in 1981 or the amazing series in England in 2005 to the recent 2019 series which was fought tooth to nail and ended up in a draw, with Australia retaining the urn, the series has produced one some of the best moments and made legends out of ordinary players.

Ponting would bring back Shane Warne for one more Ashes series

One such player is Ricky Ponting, who won the Ashes in 2006-07. In 35 Test matches in Ashes series, Ponting made 2476 runs with 8 centuries and 9 half-centuries to his name. His highest score was 196 and he averaged 44.21 in the historically significant series. Recently, during a Twitter Q&A session, Ricky Ponting was asked by a fan about which player he would like to bring out of retirement for one final Ashes series.

The fan asked, “If you could bring anybody (even yourself) out of retirement for one more Ashes tour. Who would it be??”

If you could bring anybody (even yourself) out of retirement for one more Ashes tour. Who would it be??

— DeeLink (@DeeW_andmore) January 12, 2020

To which, the former Australia captain replied with one and only legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne. “In England or Australia, I’d go @ShaneWarne,”

In England or Australia, I'd go @ShaneWarne https://t.co/D7JVw72rHl

— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) January 12, 2020

The Victoria-born leg-spinner had made his Test debut in 1992 against India. He then developed into one of the leading leg-spinners in the world, ending his career with 708 wickets in 145 Test matches. Shane Warne made an immediate impact in the Ashes of 1993 which was played in England, as he clean bowled Mike Gatting with a ripper of a delivery, which has been dubbed as the ball of the century unanimously.

Shane Warne played 36 Ashes Test matches and picked a record 195 wickets with the best bowling of 8/71 at an average of 23.25with 11 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls to his name.