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http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18065968-23212,00.html
Tuff sledge sours award
By Jon Pierik
February 7, 2006
RICKY Ponting and several of his teammates were left fuming and vowed redemption in next summer's Ashes series after a pre-recorded comic speech by former England spin bowler Phil Tufnell last night.
Bring it on ... Ponting can't wait to pay Tufnell (inset) back. Pic: Wayne Ludbey
As the Australia captain accepted the Allan Border medal as the country's best cricketer for the second time, he fired back at Tufnell, who had lampooned Australia earlier in the evening over its Ashes defeat last year.
Tufnell made particular reference to Ponting's heavily criticised decision to bowl first after winning the toss in what was to prove a losing second Test at Edgbaston, and to Shane Warne's dropped catches off Kevin Pietersen at The Oval. Pietersen went on to post a match-saving century that ensured England a 2-1 series win.
Tufnell, who had a bowling average of 38.14 and a batting average of 2.73 against Australia in 12 Ashes Tests, said: "Warnie, you batted like a maestro, bowled like a wizard, and I know you are friends with Kevin Pietersen, but did you mean to drop him twice?
"Do you wake up at night thinking you dropped the Ashes? You can call Herschelle Gibbs for advice, I can tell you he will be awake."
Tufnell then thanked Ponting for his decision to bowl first.
Ponting later took aim at Tufnell when former captain Border handed over the medal.
"If we needed any more inspiration, I think we have all got it tonight," Ponting said.
"Looking at that short video from Phil Tufnell there, a few guys on my table were pretty fired up by that.
"I am not sure whose idea it was, but it certainly made us a bit hungrier to take on the Englishmen in 290 days' time.
"I am looking forward to the Englishmen arriving in less than a year's time, and I will guarantee that we will put up a better show than we did in the Ashes only a few months ago."
After the presentation, Ponting added: "You could see that it had sort of touched a soft spot with everybody. I probably wouldn't have minded it so much if it had been someone who had taken part in that series. "Someone that never really did anything against Australia in any game that he ever played was a little bit harder to cop, I guess."
Herald Sun
This coming from a proven certified pothead??
Hey Tufnell? "I am the music man, I come from down your way and I can play - What can you play? - I can play the....Phil Tufnell......catch the catch the catch the ball, catch the ball, catch the ball, catch the catch the catch the ball, catch the ball Phil............"
Tuff sledge sours award
By Jon Pierik
February 7, 2006
RICKY Ponting and several of his teammates were left fuming and vowed redemption in next summer's Ashes series after a pre-recorded comic speech by former England spin bowler Phil Tufnell last night.
As the Australia captain accepted the Allan Border medal as the country's best cricketer for the second time, he fired back at Tufnell, who had lampooned Australia earlier in the evening over its Ashes defeat last year.
Tufnell made particular reference to Ponting's heavily criticised decision to bowl first after winning the toss in what was to prove a losing second Test at Edgbaston, and to Shane Warne's dropped catches off Kevin Pietersen at The Oval. Pietersen went on to post a match-saving century that ensured England a 2-1 series win.
Tufnell, who had a bowling average of 38.14 and a batting average of 2.73 against Australia in 12 Ashes Tests, said: "Warnie, you batted like a maestro, bowled like a wizard, and I know you are friends with Kevin Pietersen, but did you mean to drop him twice?
"Do you wake up at night thinking you dropped the Ashes? You can call Herschelle Gibbs for advice, I can tell you he will be awake."
Tufnell then thanked Ponting for his decision to bowl first.
Ponting later took aim at Tufnell when former captain Border handed over the medal.
"If we needed any more inspiration, I think we have all got it tonight," Ponting said.
"Looking at that short video from Phil Tufnell there, a few guys on my table were pretty fired up by that.
"I am not sure whose idea it was, but it certainly made us a bit hungrier to take on the Englishmen in 290 days' time.
"I am looking forward to the Englishmen arriving in less than a year's time, and I will guarantee that we will put up a better show than we did in the Ashes only a few months ago."
After the presentation, Ponting added: "You could see that it had sort of touched a soft spot with everybody. I probably wouldn't have minded it so much if it had been someone who had taken part in that series. "Someone that never really did anything against Australia in any game that he ever played was a little bit harder to cop, I guess."
Herald Sun
This coming from a proven certified pothead??
Hey Tufnell? "I am the music man, I come from down your way and I can play - What can you play? - I can play the....Phil Tufnell......catch the catch the catch the ball, catch the ball, catch the ball, catch the catch the catch the ball, catch the ball Phil............"
