Ricky Ponting argues with Aleem Dar on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images Ricky Ponting's distinguished Test career is in danger of ending ignominiously after the pressure of impending Ashes failure caused him to become embroiled in a heated confrontation with the umpire Aleem Dar.
Ponting was fiercely criticised by a gang of former Australian Test captains and was fined 40% of his match fee following his his vehement protests when Kevin Pietersen survived an appeal for a catch at the wicket.
The available technology suggested the decision was correct but Ponting jabbed his finger in Dar's direction before moving on to continue the debate with square-leg umpire Tony Hill. The ICC could have banned Ponting from the Sydney Test had they found him guilty of a Level Two breach of their code, but instead docked him 40% of his match fee after deeming him guilty of a Level One charge of dissent.
The article of the code Ponting contravened refers to "arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the umpire about his decision", a charge the Australia captain admitted to.
As such the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, was able to set the penalty without the need for a full hearing.Explaining his decision, Madugalle said: "Ricky's actions as captain of his country were unacceptable. A captain is expected to set the example and not get involved in a prolonged discussion with the on-field umpires and question their decision.
"While pleading guilty to the charge, Ricky understood that the discussion went on far too long. He apologised for his action and stated that he has nothing but respect for the umpires and his on-field actions were not intended to show disrespect to Aleem Dar or Tony Hill."
Under-pressure Ponting accepted his punishment. He said: "I entered into discussion with the umpires about the detail of the decision having viewed replays being shown on the big screen. I accept the discussion went on for too long and I understand the reasons for the dissent charge handed down by the ICC this evening.
"I was simply trying to seek clarification from the umpires regarding how the decision had been made after being referred to the third umpire. However, I would be unhappy if anyone thought I was being disrespectful towards the umpires as this wasn't my intention."
Ponting's outburst against Dar caused outrage among former Australian captains. Ian Chappell, who led Australia in 30 Tests in the early 1970s, was most scathing, calling for Ponting to be suspended.
Chappell, who, ironically some credit with introducing sledging to Australian cricket, said: "If I was adjudicating I'd think a suspension would be in order as the ICC have to get tough about this sort of thing. It's not the first time he has done that but it may be the last."
Chappell called for Ponting to be sacked as Australia's captain barely a week ago, immediately after they levelled the Test series with victory in the third Test at the Waca, saying that "in an attempt to prove his critics wrong, Ponting has become impatient for success."
Ponting has been called before the ICC three times in the past four years on dissent charges and had been fined on all three occasions. Two of the charges were regarded as a Level 1 offence – "showing dissent at an umpire's decision by actions or words" – but he also escaped with a fine for a Level 2 offence – "serious dissent" – which potentially carries a one-match suspension.
Ponting's desperation was evident as he complained lengthily and vociferously to when Pietersen survived an appeal for a catch at the wicket off the Australian quick Ryan Harris. The Australians were adamant that the Umpire Decision Review System showed that Pietersen had nicked it, but the third umpire Marius Erasmus upheld Dar's "not out" decision.
Numerous replays and the use of Hotspot thermal-imaging technology, failed to show an inside edge. The not-out decision shocked the Australians, who had watched replays on the MCG's two giant video screens and were mistakenly convinced that they seen a Hotspot mark. The mark, in reality, was at the bottom of the bat, much lower than the trajectory of the ball, and was thought to have been caused by either by Pietersen's bat brushing his pad or even by him tapping the bat on the ground shortly before delivery.
About seven minutes later, Snickometer supported Erasmus' decision, but by then Ponting had finally cracked under the strain, gesticulating angrily. He is averaging 15.5 in the series, is playing in this Test with a broken little finger and is danger of becoming only the second Australian captain to lose three Ashes series' against England, as well as the first to lose an Ashes series in Australia for more than 20 years.
Ponting, as captain, had a right to intervene and politely ask the umpire for information, but his prolonged complaints appalled many former Australian captains, many of whom sit in judgment in the Channel 9 commentary box.
Bill Lawry, who led Australia in 25 Tests, railed that Ponting's dissent was "unacceptable," and Mark Taylor, the captain in an all-conquering era in the late 1990s, also observed that he should be called before the match referee.
Dar, the ICC's umpire of the year in the past two years, and outstanding in this Ashes series, remained impeccably calm, seemingly explaining that the Hotspot mark had not been caused by the ball before bringing a largely one-way conversation to a close by walking calmly to square leg for the start of the next over. Ponting then continued his argument, first with Pietersen and then with the other on-field umpire, Tony Hill.
As boos rang out from a 67,149 crowd, Barmy Army supporters chanted: "You'll be sacked in the morning." Even the ECB's official Twitter feed was critical. @ECB_Cricket said: "Ponting did not take kindly to that review going against Australia and had a lengthy argument with Aleem Dar. Disappointing to see."
Barely a year ago, the English umpire Mark Benson walked out of the Adelaide Test because he could not cope with the stress of the UDRS system, then in its infancy. Ponting had expressed his mistrust of the system and had demanded meetings with the umpires, Benson included, to express his misgivings. He described the meetings as "helpful."
Initially, only the Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, had imagined that Pietersen had edged the ball and Ponting had called for a referral on that basis. With England 259-2 at the time, a lead of 161, he could feel the Ashes slipping away. His day worsened when he imagined that he had run out Jonathan Trott, on 46, from deep midwicket, but television replays showed that the batsman had made his ground by a single frame. After tea Matt Prior, on five, was given out caught behind off Mitchell Johnson, but he was spared when Dar asked for a replay and Johnson was shown to have overstepped.
Trott finished the day on 141 not out, and Prior 75 not out as they stretched their sixth-wicket stand to 158. England, at 444-5, led by 346 with three days remaining. Ponting was bereft.
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