Australian skipper Ricky Ponting insists team not distracted by LCD incident during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 match
Australian captain Ricky Ponting insists that the Australian team is not distracted by the dressing-room incident, during their match against Zimbabwe, which resulted in an official reprimand from the ICC.
The Kangaroos’ skipper had accepted fault for accidentally damaging an LCD in the team's dressing room following his run out in the World Cup opener. Sections of the Indian media reported that Ponting had ‘smashed’ the TV, in a fit of rage, a claim denied by Ponting. He claimed that he threw his groin protector at his kit bag which bounced to damage the television: which he reported immediately.
Ponting is bemused how the accident has become such an issue within the Indian media.
“It’s probably turned into something bigger than I expected, and I must admit, but I am trying to move on from it now,” he said.
“I met with the referee last night, and obviously accepted the reprimand that came my way. I understand that the action of mine caused damage in the change rooms which led to the breach of conduct,” he added.
He added that he was grateful to the ICC for listening to his side of the story and for the way they handled the incident.
This is not the first time Ponting has stirred controversy and landed in trouble for his temper tantrums.
In the 2009 Ashes series, Ponting had smashed the dressing room door of the Edgbaston ground after being dismissed by Graeme Swann. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862, which was the host club, did not file a complaint since the ground was undergoing running repairs all over.
He was involved in an outburst with the on-field umpire over a dismissal dispute in the fourth Ashes Test Match in 2010; he was subsequently fined 40% of his match fee.
Ponting hopes that, with the matter closed, everybody understands that the damage was accidental. The Aussie skipper wants to move on from the incident and concentrate on their upcoming matches.
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