Ponting: Australia culture blown out of proportion

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says he was shocked by the ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket in his country but has dismissed claims that the team’s culture needs to change.
Cricket Australia (CA) has set up an independent review into player behaviour and cultural issues in the national team.
ALSO READ: CA set up review aimed to improve player behaviour
While saying that the reaction to the ball-tampering incident was befitting of the crime, Ponting however took issue with those saying that the culture within the side had changed drastically.
The former Aussie skipper was speaking at a press conference in India where he is coach of the Delhi Devils ahead of the IPL that starts on Saturday.
Ponting said: “The cultural issue for me is really an interesting thing because if we wind the clock back to just a couple of months, when Australia won the Ashes like they did, there was no talk about cultural problems or issues whatsoever.
“I honestly feel on this occasion the cultural stuff that’s been spoken about has probably been blown out of proportion to a certain degree.”
Ponting, who played in 168 Tests, said he happy to see that all three players have accepted their sanctions and can now work to rebuild their future in the game.
“As a past player and past captain, I was quite shocked to see what actually took place out on the field,” Ponting added.
“The pleasing thing for me is that now it seems the issue is starting to come to an end. We hear this morning that David Warner also accepted his sanction, means all three guys have accepted the sanctions before them.”
Latest
-
News
England quartet enter WPL auction at top £50,000 base price
Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Danni Wyatt are among 24 players at the maximum reserve.
-
England
England spinner Jack Leach ‘having too much fun to get ill now’
The Somerset spinner was hospitalised the last time he toured New Zealand with England.
-
Women's Cricket
Sarah Glenn hopes aggressive mindset helps England do ‘something really special’
Jon Lewis’ squad play their final warm-up against New Zealand in Cape Town.
-
England
Michael Vaughan set to be only charged individual to appear at racism hearing
A hearing has been confirmed to take place between March 1 and 9.
-
New Zealand
Kyle Jamieson hoping for more exciting cricket as Brendon McCullum returns to NZ
England face New Zealand in a two-Test series.
-
Australia
Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch retires from international cricket
The 36-year-old skippered Australia in 76 T20 internationals, more than any other men’s player.
-
England
On this day in 2017: Sir Alastair Cook steps down as England Test captain
Cook’s 59 Tests in charge made him the nation’s longest-serving captain at the time.
-
England
Hoggard and Bresnan withdraw as ECB racism process ‘has failed everybody’
The case is due to be heard in public by a Cricket Discipline Commission panel at the start of next month.
-
England
ECB’s Azeem Rafiq racism investigation has ‘failed everyone’ – Matthew Hoggard
Ex-England player Hoggard has withdrawn his co-operation from the process.
-
County Cricket
Ex-England and Yorkshire seamer Matthew Hoggard pulls out of racism hearing
Hoggard was charged by the ECB in June.