Ponting thinks Sydney Test performances could be tainted
Ricky Ponting has expressed his fears that second Test match between Australia and Pakistan played in Sydney this year could be mired in match-fixing. There have been many insinuations in recent times each time the match-fixing topic has raised its ugly head that have pointed towards the Sydney game being tainted as well, but there has been no concrete proof.
However, in the latest match-fixing scandal to hit cricket, the alleged match-fixer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed had said to a sting operation reporter that even the Sydney game was fixed. Majeed also claimed that almost 900,000 pounds were earned by him and the players through the Sydney Test match.
The Sydney Test match had seen http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 were struggling at 257/8, thus having a lead of only 51 runs, before Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle allowed the side to get away. The pair added 123 for the ninth wicket, and set the Pakistanis a target of 176 for a win. Pakistan was bowled out for a paltry 139. What had caused concerns in the game was the fact that Kamran Akmal had dropped Hussey thrice in his innings, and that led to him being chucked out of the team for the third Test match.
Speaking to the media, Ponting said, the Sydney wins was one of the best wins that the side had as a captain then. However, he added, with the current controversies around spot-fixing, he did have doubts over the things that had transpired in that Test match.
Ponting also added that he was worried about the individual’s performances in the game, citing examples of Hussey and Siddle’s batting, and Nathan Hauritz’s five-wicket haul on the last day of the Test match. Ponting said, “You look at Mike Hussey's second innings hundred and Peter Siddle's batting and the way he was with Mike Hussey that day and Nathan Hauritz taking five wickets on the final day to win us the game. All of those individual milestones will be tainted as well.”
At that time, the Australian captain believed that the side had won the Test match fair and square, but the ICC had had their issues and had the Test match investigated by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the ICC. However, the ACSU had found nothing amiss in the game.
Cricket Australia’s chief James Sutherland said that he would like to believe that the Sydney Test was above board.
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