Login | Register News updated at 4:24 PM IST     RSS
Deccan Herald

Saturday 21 November 2009
Weather
Max: 0°C
Min : 0°C
In Bangalore
Partially cloudy
 CJI criticises media for coverage on terror attacks     BSY rules out dropping Reddy brothers     Four Pakistanis arrested in Italy for Mumbai attacks     PM leaves for the US     PM not to stay at Blair House     France-Ireland replay 'fairest solution' - Henry     PCB yet to seek IPL clearance from government     OECD lauds India's smart economic recovery     India, China very important global players: US     11 dead, 118 trapped in China mine explosion     'India to be third largest economy by 2050'     Nuclear safety expert Krishnamoorthy passes away     Afghan aid must not fuel corruption: Gates     FIFA ban Iraq from international football     Tata, Honeywell's David Cote to co-chair Indo-US CEO Forum    
 
Ponting fumes over Kotla practice pitch
New Delhi, Oct 30, DHNS:

Still grappling to get the team combination right following a spate of injuries, the last thing Australia needed ahead of Saturday’s third one-dayer against India here was lack of preparedness.

Ricky PontingRicky Ponting minced no words when he made his displeasure clear after finding the practice pitches at the Kotla wet and unplayable. The state of the pitches, Ponting claimed, not only affected their preparations but also delayed their training. “When we turned out for practice this morning, for some reason the practice wickets had been watered, so we haven’t had a chance to train today properly. That’s a bit disappointing,” said Ponting during his media briefing.

The explanation by the groundsmen that they weren’t aware of Australia’s 9.00 am practice didn’t amuse Ponting. “I am very disappointed,” he countered. “It seems everybody in the world except the groundsmen here knew we would be training from 9.00 am. To turn up and find that the wickets are completely unusable is disappointing. You have just one training day and I am sure that by the time the Indians come this afternoon, the wicket will be fine. It was a bit of disadvantage for us.”

Delhi and District Cricket Association curator Vijay Abrader Mishap explained that he did not expect the Australian team to train early.

“We were told that both teams would come at 2.00 p.m. and train together,” Mishap said. Obviously, there was lack of communication between the DDCA and the Australian team but considering the fact that there are only four practice pitches at the DDCA facilities, it was a bit strange that they expected both teams to practice together.
Go to Top

 User Comments
[ Post Comments ]  
By: Sam C
On: 31 Oct 2009 06:50 am

If there was a request for practice @ 9 AM, groundsmen should have provided facilities. I am not sure if the denial was deliberate or not but Ponting may have a valid complaint.

Reply |  Report abuse


By: Ganeshan
On: 30 Oct 2009 09:30 pm

Does he mean to say that they depend on a practice on the previous day determines their capability?. Does he mean that the goundsmen intentionally did that?. In the US, Nfl players play even under heavy snow though the visiting team might not have practiced in snow. That is a ridculous comment/complaint from top world circket country.

Reply |  Report abuse


By: KAaes
On: 30 Oct 2009 05:30 pm

Stop sulking Ponting. You wont lose a chance to find fault with India/Indians. I dont think your grounds men gave even half as good facilities. You shifted our only pretour match to Junction oval in 2007 and even that got marred by weather. Your players got greedy for money and played their best in IPL/ICL. They dont have apare tank. If they got injured for the sake of their earnings thats your problem. Instead of playing 30+ buddahs try to get an younger team who are less prone to injuries or even if they are can still cope.

Reply |  Report abuse


[ Post Comments ]

 
Related News
'Gap between industry, research narrowing'
India, US look beyond nuclear deal
Child rights deprivation high in India, says Unicef
UP STF arrests two persons involved in visa racket
'India to be third largest economy by 2050'
Videos
Indian Railways launches Jan Ahaar in Kolkata
Indian Railways launches Jan Ahaar in Kolkata
 
Submit your Videos along with brief captions: To the Webmaster.
 
Photo Gallery
Perfect Matching
Perfect Matching
Fall foliage 2
Fall foliage 2
View more photos
Cricket
Movie Guide
Sadu Kokila directed Devaru is about life and its many combinations and complications. The story is about how best one can make use of life to make...
Horoscope