Ponting hits back

[Philhawk]

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/284838.html

'We all know the way he played his cricket'

Ponting targets Gavaskar over behaviour

Cricinfo staff

March 12, 2007




Ricky Ponting admits he has been reported "more than anybody" since becoming captain © Getty Images


Ricky Ponting said it was "high and mighty" of Sunil Gavaskar to complain about poor on-field behaviour as Australia's captain questioned his role in India's lack of recent Test success. Gavaskar said this week Australia's recent losses to England and New Zealand had "gladdened the hearts" of the game's followers.

"There is not the slightest doubt that in the last decade or so the Aussies have been awesome in batting, bowling and fielding, which has taken them to the top of the cricketing ladder," Gavaskar, who regularly highlights Australia's poor behaviour, said. "But they have also been awful in the way they have sometimes behaved on the field much to the chagrin of the traditional fans of the game."

Ponting, who will lead Australia in their opening World Cup game against Scotland on Wednesday, said teams that dominated for a long period did not have too many supporters and then targeted Gavaskar. "We all know the way he played his cricket, don't we?," Ponting said in The Australian. "If he is talking about us, what about the way India have played their cricket over the last few years?"

India won three of 12 Tests last year while Australia were successful in their ten games. "I know who I would rather be going to watch," Ponting told the paper. "Have a look at how many Test matches they have won. He [Gavaskar] has been a big part of that, he has been a selector and he has been on the coaching committee. They might want to start to look at the way they play their own cricket rather than looking at us."

Ponting admitted he had been reported "more than anybody" since becoming captain - he was found guilty of dissent twice in 2006 - but returned to Gavaskar and recalled his attempted walk-off at the MCG in 1980-81. "Given out lbw to Lillee, Gavaskar indicated that he had edged the ball on to his pad, and was so enraged that he wanted to forfeit the match, ordering his partner, Chauhan, to walk off with him," the Almanack reported. India's manager stopped Chetan Chauhan from leaving the field.

"For him to go on about behaviour, not too many captains have dragged their teams off the field, either," Ponting said. "I don't mind if 'Mr Perfect' comes out and goes on about our team, I know we are all not perfect. We are not going to keep everyone happy 100% of the time. But for some of these guys that have done it all themselves, it's pretty high and mighty for them to say that."

© Cricinfo

I'll just say this much, Gavaskar's comments were stupid and not warranted just before the World Cup, but for Ponting to have a go at the Indian Cricket Team and their lack of Test success in the last 12 months is just stupid leading up to the World Cup.

I look forward to watching India jam those words straight back down Pontings throat when they beat Australia in the Final.

Geez, it's good to have the World Cup back.

 

[RoosterLad]

If Australia play India in the final it will be yet another belting like the last time they met. India have no hope.

 

[likka]

Looks like Ricky has learnt nothing.

There is absolutely no benefit in publicly dressing down Indian cricket because of the comments of one idiot.

 

[RoosterLad]

The Indians will probably start burning effigys of Punter now or maybe paint his name onto a donkey.

 

[Timmsy]

He has got to be bigger than Ben Course!!! seriously it means alot to say that, Ben is a big bloke - you know the Hungarian figure skater / nude model

 

[Philhawk]

If Australia play India in the final it will be yet another belting like the last time they met. India have no hope.

We'll see, RL.

 

[mark73]

I look forward to watching India jam those words straight back down Pontings throat when they beat Australia in the Final.

The problem with that though is they're not capable of doing that. And Ponting is well within his rights to stand up for himself. The comments about the current Indian team were irrelevant, but I agree with him that coming from Gavaskar, who was never out according to himself and took his team off the field after a hissy fit, was a bit rich.

 

[Philhawk]

Yeh that's the unfortunate thing about it, Australia is pretty much the only team who can back it up with their actions on the field.

As for Gavaskar, it's about time he got out of Indian cricket and stopped reminiscing about the old days. He's doing the sport in India no favours with his continuous but-ins. Worse still, he's trying to use his influence to get his hack of a son into the team again.

 

[apollo_creed]

Pathan will beat Australia on his own.

He's in form.

 

[King Elvis]

I think the dig at the Indian Cricket Team isn't directed at the team itself, but the fact that Gavaskar is a prominent administrator in India, and under his guidance the Team has been average.

 

[Romeo]

Evidently Sunil is still bitter that his career finished before the huge finances came into Indian cricket. He has a permanent chip on his shoulder.

 

[Power21]

We'll see, RL.

We have seen it before, nothing suggest it won't happen again.

 

[davey_magik]

Punter may have been a bit over the top, but there have been a lot of former players from other countries who have been dominated by Australia that have all been sinking the boot in, and I can understand it would annoy the whole team a great deal.

 

[Romeo]

Punter may have been a bit over the top, but there have been a lot of former players from other countries who have been dominated by Australia that have all been sinking the boot in, and I can understand it would annoy the whole team a great deal.

Agree, except though for Donald who came straight out and said SA was our bunny!