Ponting apologises to umpire Rauf
Kuala Lampur: Ricky Ponting, who was fined his entire match fee for breaching the ICC code of conduct, has apologised to umpire Asad Rauf for showing dissent over a decision during the DLF Cup Tri-series match against the West Indies.
"Having had the opportunity to sleep on the incident I know I made a serious error of judgment. I regret the approach I made to umpire Asad Rauf and realise I should not have behaved in the way I did,'' Ponting said in a statement released by Cricket Australia.
In a hearing after the match on Tuesday, match Referee Chris Broad, found Ponting guilty of having breached level 1.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for 'showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse'.
"International cricket matches are passionate affairs, but as the captain of the Australian cricket team, I understand it's my responsibility to uphold the spirit of the game and I know that through my actions I let myself and my team down,'' he said.
Ponting queried Rauf's call of a wide ball given in the 33rd over off Shane Watson. Since it was the second such incident in the past 12 months that Ponting was involved in --the other happened during the Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in April.
Flintoff’s appointment is a surprise
The Australian captain also made his feelings on the England team picked for the Ashes series. Ponting expressed surprised that Andrew Flintoff got the nod to lead England in the Ashes but sees nothing in their squad to force Australia to alter its preparations. "It doesn't really matter whatever squad they have named. It won't change what we do at all,'' he said. "I did think that Strauss would get the nod but obviously it hasn't gone that way -- I don't know why. We will have to wait and see what sort of job Flintoff does,'' he said.
Delighted with McGrath’s comeback
Ponting was also encouraged by spearhead Glenn McGrath's return. "It was his first game for nearly 12 months so he will probably have been a bit disappointed with how many wides he did in his first spell.'' AGENCIES
Kuala Lampur: Ricky Ponting, who was fined his entire match fee for breaching the ICC code of conduct, has apologised to umpire Asad Rauf for showing dissent over a decision during the DLF Cup Tri-series match against the West Indies.
"Having had the opportunity to sleep on the incident I know I made a serious error of judgment. I regret the approach I made to umpire Asad Rauf and realise I should not have behaved in the way I did,'' Ponting said in a statement released by Cricket Australia.
In a hearing after the match on Tuesday, match Referee Chris Broad, found Ponting guilty of having breached level 1.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for 'showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse'.
"International cricket matches are passionate affairs, but as the captain of the Australian cricket team, I understand it's my responsibility to uphold the spirit of the game and I know that through my actions I let myself and my team down,'' he said.
Ponting queried Rauf's call of a wide ball given in the 33rd over off Shane Watson. Since it was the second such incident in the past 12 months that Ponting was involved in --the other happened during the Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in April.
Flintoff’s appointment is a surprise
The Australian captain also made his feelings on the England team picked for the Ashes series. Ponting expressed surprised that Andrew Flintoff got the nod to lead England in the Ashes but sees nothing in their squad to force Australia to alter its preparations. "It doesn't really matter whatever squad they have named. It won't change what we do at all,'' he said. "I did think that Strauss would get the nod but obviously it hasn't gone that way -- I don't know why. We will have to wait and see what sort of job Flintoff does,'' he said.
Delighted with McGrath’s comeback
Ponting was also encouraged by spearhead Glenn McGrath's return. "It was his first game for nearly 12 months so he will probably have been a bit disappointed with how many wides he did in his first spell.'' AGENCIES