Ricky Ponting is still complaining about England’s usage of subs in the current Ashes. He thinks England’s bowlers take orchestrated breaks right after a bowling spell and use specialist fielders as 12th man in specialist positions. He admits it is still within the laws of the game but NOT within the spirit of the game.
I think it’s a case of sour grapes with Ponting.
Do you agree that subs shouldn’t be allowed to field close to the bat. May be only outside the 30 yard circle or in the deep?
Re: The issue of Substitutes
If Australia was winning this series, there would not have been any complains of substitutes being used unfairly. This is just like when Wasim and Waqar reversed-swinged the hell out of English batsmen back in 94(?), they were tempering with the ball and it was totally not in game's spirit.
Re: The issue of Substitutes
Yes sour grapes. During the 80's Pakistan used this tactic while touring England and the English press were quick to label such subs as super subs.
Re: The issue of Substitutes
whiners whiners
Re: The issue of Substitutes
If England keep on forcing Australia to "follow-on" for a while, Ricky will complain about "follow-on" being againast the sprit of the game as each team has to play 2 innings in test game :)
Re: The issue of Substitutes
^ lol, it's funny to see Aussies make up excuses like these. This is precious!
Re: The issue of Substitutes
Thats a good point. Aussies are not used to such thrashing and being dominated for three consecutive tests. They really dont know how to lose. Ponting and Katics’ reactions were prime examples of that. Sore losers!
Ponting continues to rail against England's use of substitutes
August 29, 2005
Ricky Ponting: 'I've had enough of it' © Getty Images
Less than 36 hours after being fined 75% of his match fee for his outburst following his dismissal in Australia's second innings, Ricky Ponting refuses to let the subject of substitute fielders lie down.
Speaking on a Melbourne radio station, Ponting was in no mood for diplomacy. "I think it is an absolute disgrace the spirit of the game is being treated like that," he said. "[Duncan] Fletcher has known right the way through the summer this is something we haven't been happy with, but it's continued. He knows it's something that has got under our skins and I've had enough of it, and I let him know that, and most of his players too.
"Being here in England they've obviously got the resources to just draft in the best fieldsmen that they possibly can at the time. The way they've been doing it is just before their bowlers are about to bowl they'll send them off for a short amount of time to have a bit of a loosen-up and a massage and that sort of stuff, and come back on and bowl. As soon as they've finished their spell they'll do exactly the same thing. It's within the rules of the game but it's just not within the spirit of the game, which is what we're all trying to uphold."
Ponting was fined 75% of his match fee for his outburst at Trent Bridge, but many consider that he got away quite lightly for a prolonged tirade which included a broadside aim at Fletcher within earshot of spectators.
And Glenn McGrath, who had to sit out the match with an elbow injury, backed his captain. "The only time you should go off during a Test match is obviously if you need to go off for an injury or pop off for a quick toilet break. That's it. Test cricket to us is played by the guys who are in the team. If you are not fit enough or you are looking at ways to keep your players fresh, I think that's not quite in the spirit of the game. As a player myself, I'd keep playing. You would have to drag me off the field."
This is not the first time that the use of substitutes has raised the hackles during an Ashes series. In 1981, Dennis Lillee took to leaving the field after completing his bowling spells to have a shower and change his shirt, leading to complaints from Mike Brearley, England's captain, and a subsequent change to the laws. The end result this time might be similar.
Re: The issue of Substitutes (Merged)
Ricky Ponting is degrading himself even more by whinging about this issue, why would he care who ran him out with the direct throw, is he claiming that no one was able to ran him out except the 12th man?????
The idiot was also complaining when Aleem Dar referred to third umpire to confirm if the ball carried to Clarke ( When Strauss edged one off Warne), tv replays showed that there was enough doubt about that dismissal and the third umpire might have got that wrong because the ball appeared to have touched the ground first ( Fox sports commentators confirmed that too).
Re: The issue of Substitutes
I wonder if Ponting was himself the 12th man, what might have been his reaction, then.