Matthews critical of Ponting

Former Australian Test spinner Greg Matthews on Sunday joined the anti-Ponting campaign saying that former Australia captain Mark Taylor wouldn’t have let anything like this to happen under his leadership, referring to the controversial second Test against India at Sydney, reports UNI from Melbourne.

"One single phone call, one act of humility from our leader (Ponting) or from Cricket Australia’s bosses would have resolved everything. How did it get to this stage?’’ he said. ‘’It’s so sad. It’s a poor reflection on everyone involved.’’

Ponting has been criticised by the cricket pundits for his handling of Harbhajan Singh’s racial slur against Andrew Symonds, with India skipper Anil Kumble revealing Australia’s skipper had refused his request for private peace talks.

‘Better than Waugh’s side’

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell said the all-round criticism of Ricky Ponting’s team’s abrasive behaviour during the acrimonious Sydney Test was expected considering their image as a team who “intimidate the opponents.”

“Australia side aggrieved at always being portrayed as the on-field aggressors and the Harbhajan incident was the perfect opportunity for vindication: ‘See, we said we’re not the only ones’,” Chappell wrote in The Daily Telegraph.

Chappell, however, feels that the current side are better behaved than the one led by predecessor Steve Waugh. “Ponting has addressed the behaviour of the Australian team since taking over the captaincy but some of the hypocrisy from Steve Waugh’s tenure lives on,” he wrote.

“Tough Test cricket is batting, bowling and fielding well for five days, not making snide comments on the field and then getting angry when an opponent hits back either verbally or skilfully,” Chappell said.

He also disapproved of the ICC system of captains to report opponents for racial comments.

‘Aussie run doesn’t matter’

The outrage at the Australians’ on-field behaviour during the controversy-marred Sydney Test against India has proved that supporters are not only concerned with the results but also the manner in which the game is played, former England captain Mike Atherton has said, reports PTI from London.

“The verdict on Sydney seems clear enough from the majority of cricket lovers. Australia’s 16-match unbeaten run doesn’t matter a damn,” Atherton wrote in his column in The Daily Telegraph.

“The reaction in Australia this past week shows how deeply the notion of ‘the spirit of cricket’ has woven itself into even the most macho of cricketing cultures,” he said.