Ricky Ponting said of Moeen Ali’s use of “drying agent” on Day 2 at Edgbaston, “If he knew, he wouldn’t have done it.”

Ricky Ponting, a former Australian captain, thinks that the English player didn’t know the rule, which is why he used the drying agent.

Moeen Ali, an all-rounder for England, sprayed a drying agent on his throwing hand near the boundary line on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. He was fined 25% of his match fee. Ali did something that went against the spirit of the game, which is against Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. He also said that the player would not have done that if he had known about the rule.

“Well, he didn’t know the rule, that’s for sure. He wouldn’t have done it in the middle of the ground if he had known (laughs). I was on communications, and I thought it was antiperspirant that players used to dry their hands before going up to bat,” Ricky Ponting said on Sky Sports.

Ali’s right index finger looked like it had a blister, so he was seen putting the spray on it. Ben Stokes, the captain of England, asked the 36-year-old to come out of retirement and play in the Ashes in 2023. In the first inning of the match, he got 18 runs off of 17 balls and then went back to the field with 2/147.

Also on the panel was former England ODI captain Eoin Morgan, who talked about Ollie Robinson sending Usman Khawaja off after getting him out on Day 3. The captain of the team that won the 2019 World Cup said that Robinson never hesitates to say something.

Ollie Robinson is never afraid to say something.

“Ollie Robinson is never shy. It was probably in a talk about the Ashes a month ago. He was very clear when he said that the Australian top order should be “pummeled” or “run through.” So he never hesitates to say something, whether he is on the mic or on the pitch. So it doesn’t surprise me that he sledded to Khawaja,” Morgan said.

At the end of Day 3, England is 28/2 and ahead of Australia by 35 runs. Joe Root and Ollie Pope are at the wicket.