Ponting labelled a disgrace to Australia

[stan]

Ponting labelled a disgrace to Australia

Cricinfo staff

January 19, 2006

The 80-year-old former Test umpire Lou Rowan has branded Ricky Ponting a disgrace to his country and expressed his disgust at Australia's conduct this summer.

Rowan, a police detective who officiated in 25 Tests in the 1960s and 1970s, claims Ponting lacks class and authority as a captain, while stating that Australia's behaviour this summer has been an insult to former players.

"Ponting is a smart arse and a disaster as leader. The conduct of him and his players is absolutely disgraceful," Rowan told Fox Sports. "He has no control over his players. It is an insult to former players and people associated with the game."

During a tempestuous series against South Africa, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath have all been called to the match referee this summer, prompting angry and resentful comments from former players and captains - and now umpires. Ponting, whose leadership came under increased scrutiny after Australia lost the Ashes last summer, conceded that his team's attitude and behaviour simply must change.

"It just hasn't looked good," he said. "Just a couple of things on telly, even though there have been some chats with the umpires, they just haven't looked good and the perception of it is it's a blight on the game.

"So I just had a chat with the guys this morning to make sure we are thinking about how bad it would look on the television if we do it. I have got no problem with the bowlers especially wanting to have a chat with the umpire and ask about certain decisions that have been made. But let's just make it one question and one answer, and then get on with it."

Rowan's abhorrence at Australia's antics have culminated in the extraordinary admission that he has now watched his last Test match.

"The standard of conduct that was common-place in my time has been contemptuously trampled underfoot by certain Australian players who cannot grasp the significance of the honour bestowed on them by the baggy green cap," Rowan said.

"The ever-present and accepted practice of sledging, obscenities, excessive appealing, the questioning of umpires and the accompanying dissent leaves our Australian team quite correctly dubbed 'the ugly Australians'."

[RustyCage]

I agree - Pontings behaviour on the field is disgraceful. He goes up and whinges to the umpires every chance he gets.

[scott]

Who remembers the Adelaide Test incident this season?

Warne bowls it, the Windies' batsmen plays at it, the ball bobs up to short leg who goes up in appeal. Umpire doesn't give it out.

Ponting then goes and whinges strongly to the umpire about why it wasn't given out. Then looking at the replay - the batsmen didn't hit it, and secondly, the fielder didn't even bloody catch it!

Yet, he has the nerves to have a go at whoever he likes? I agree with that article. His behaviour on the field is poor.

[Magpiespower]

No doubt about it - Ponting hasn't handled the added responsibility of captaining Australia very well at all.

Can't help but draw comparisons with Viv Richards as a captain.

In other words, the brilliance of the team compensates for his obvious shortcomings as leader.

[rod_rooster]

What exactly has Ponting done wrong? Sure he probably isn't the ideal captain but who else is there? The guy who should be doing it is Shane Warne. Unfortunetly his "off field indiscretions" have cost him any chance of this. About time this country wakes up and realises that we should pick the best person for the job not the person who offends the least people. Either way Ponting is at the moment the best person for the job and also the best batsman in the world. Give him a break. It's not his fault the selectors don't pick the best side available.

[RustyCage]

What exactly has Ponting done wrong? Sure he probably isn't the ideal captain but who else is there? The guy who should be doing it is Shane Warne. Unfortunetly his "off field indiscretions" have cost him any chance of this. About time this country wakes up and realises that we should pick the best person for the job not the person who offends the least people. Either way Ponting is at the moment the best person for the job and also the best batsman in the world. Give him a break. It's not his fault the selectors don't pick the best side available.

RR - you are right, but what is Pontings fault is the way he conducts himself on the field - a batsman cant even stand at the crease or look angry when he gets out because he will get done for dissent, but what Ponting does everytime a decision goes against him in the field shows more dissent than any batsman has ever done.

[Rik E Boy]

For those old enough to remember, umpire Lou Rowan was the umpire that warned English fast bowler John Snow for intimidation in the seventh test of the 1970-71 Ashes Series. Terry Jenner had been felled by a Snow bouncer and tension was already simmering. English captain Ray Illingworth was incensed by Rowan's call and the crowd was getting ugly because of Jenner's injury. The angry English captain stationed Snow on the deep leg boundary and beer cans came flying from everywhere and Snow was even grabbed by an aggreived spectator, prompting Illingworth to lead his team from the field.

It was only after the beer cans were cleared and the match threatened to be awarded to Australia that Illingworth bought his team back on to the field.

Relevance I hear you ask?? I'd like to suggest that Rowan practice what he preaches, he lacked class that day and his decision to to warn Snow showed he was a disaster as an umpire who's job it is to CONTROL the game, not inflame the situation. I'd also like to suggest that Ponting will improve as a leader but that same improvement will never be shown by this fossil and his ill advised attempt to remain a contempory figure in world cricket is an example of why I hold this view.

regards,

REB

[Punk Rooster]

Since when has it become the Australian way to mock the Australian Captain? For shame!

[Magpiespower]

Since when has it become the Australian way to mock the Australian Captain? For shame!

Dare you to say it Punk.

It's un...

[stan]

For Shame is better.