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| World Home » Sports » | Sat. Jul 5, 2008 |
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Australia designed to win match at India’s cost –Ponting denied MIL/Agencies, Jan 10, 2008. Melbourne, Australia: January 10, 2008 - Australia’s Cricket Captain Ricky Ponting was disturbed as a result of scornful criticism of the Australian team's harsh behavior, and said that he would, in future, try to improve these lapses. Ponting said that he would analyze the whole affair and see where the fault lies in terms of controversial misbehavior of the Australian team against Indian players. "I think it's important that we sit back and look at that footage. Look at our body language. See if there are areas that we can improve on," Ponting, who till recently strongly defended his team's behavior, said. Australia won the ill-tempered match by 122 runs to record their 16th straight Test win but instead of celebrating it, the team received harsh criticism. "I might be talking to opposition players on the field but it might be construed by people watching on television that you're in a slinging or sledging match when that's not the case," he explained. "What I want is for the Australian cricket team to be the most loved and the most respected sporting side in this country. That's always been one of my aims and it will continue to be," he said. "One thing I've been conscious of over the last five years I've been captain is that this team is going to be recognized as one of the all-time great Australian cricket teams." "But what I've also been conscious of is making sure the guys are remembered as being good people to go along with being great cricketers," he added. The right-hander said since taking over captaincy he has made every effort to make his team look friendly and well-behaved. "In the last two or three seasons especially, we've actually started to change the perception, the way in which the public see us. There have been less (players reported). We're ultra-conscious of how we play the game and the spirit of cricket which we all signed on to," he said. Looking back at the acrimonious week that was marred by a three-Test ban on Harbhajan Singh for allegedly racially abusing Andrew Symonds, Ponting said he first realized the gravity of the situation when his concerned wife Rianna called up to check whether he still had his job. "'Have you seen the papers?' she asked and said 'Is everything OK with your job?'. She was a bit worried and a bit shaken. I said everything will be OK," he revealed. On his own behavior during the match, Ponting said he regretted a few instances like standing too long at the crease after being given out LBW in the first innings. "There's no doubt I stood there for a second or two too long and I shouldn't have done that. And it probably didn't help that I was shown throwing my bat when I got back to the rooms," he said. "Some of the guys mightn't have shaken (Indian skipper Anil) Kumble's hand after the game. But we were so wrapped up with the end of the game that they were already off the field. And we all walked along when it was over and shook their hands," he added. Ponting, however, rubbished accusations that his side's celebrations after winning the match were reflective of any arrogance. Ponting denied that Australia designed to win match at India’s cost. "I've thought about this in the last couple of days. If we were big-headed and arrogant we wouldn't have been celebrating like that," he said. “Whatever might be now the feelings and statement of Captain Ponting, he should note that the win of Australian team was manipulated and designed at the cost of India’s reputation, and this is proved beyond doubt, and it can not be denied."as per comments from International Reporter.
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