Ashes 2010-11 update: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting fined 40% match fee
Impulsive Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has been fined 40% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for showing discontent over a referral decision that didn’t go his side’s way on the second day of the fourth
Ashes Test held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
According to the ICC, the flamboyant Aussie captain accepted the charges levelled against him and did not defend his actions, which means that the match referee Ranjan Madugalle could impose a fine on Ponting without calling a
full hearing regarding the matter.
Madugalle said, “Ricky’s actions as captain of his country were unacceptable. A captain is expected to set the example and not get involved in a prolonged discussion with the on-field umpires and question their decision.”
However, it has been reported that Ponting apologized for his misconduct and the matter will not be further investigated by the ICC.
The issue erupted when Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin thought that he had caught an edge by English batsman Kevin Pietersen, but when the field umpire Aleem Dar didn’t show interest, Haddin convinced Ponting to ask for a video
referral. However, even in the video review Pietersen was safe and adjudged not out.
The decision by the on-field umpire and then by the third umpire was still not enough to convince Ponting and he ended up in a heated debate with Aleem Dar (the current number one umpire in the world), challenging the judgment
of the umpires. Dar was seen explaining to Ponting that the ball had passed KP’s bat without touching it. Ponting was then again seen arguing with Tony Hill, the second on-field umpire, about the same decision.
Ponting also had a heated exchange with Pietersen; however, Pietersen did not give away the details of the argument to the press after the end of the day’s play. KP’s batting partner Jonathan Trott also refused to disclose the
contents of the argument between the two players and claimed that he was oblivious of what was happening around him. He said, “I don’t really know much about what was going on, I was talking to K.P. the whole time. I didn’t see any altercation really. I saw
(Ponting) chatting but I’m not sure what about.”
Such an outburst by the Australian skipper shows that the strong position of England in the fourth match was getting too much for the skipper to handle and he was desperate to grab some wickets.
England have managed to cement their position on the second day of the fourth Test by scoring 444/5 in response to Australia’s 98 runs (all out) in the first innings.
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