15 Jul 2009

Ponting accused of hypocrisy

5:37 am on 15 July 2009

The Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has been accused of hypocrisy by the former England coach Duncan Fletcher following his complaint about England's time-wasting tactics on the final day of the drawn first Ashes test in Cardiff.

In his Guardian newspaper column, Fletcher said the England team would be amused as they head for the second test at Lord's with a lecture about the spirit of the game from Ricky Ponting, of all people, still ringing in their ears.

Fletcher says no team ignores the spirit of the game more than Ponting's Australians, and he says Ponting was simply frustrated that his bowlers failed to complete the job in Cardiff.