Have a read of this! From fox sports.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18081438-23212,00.html
Ponting polling poorly
By staff writers
February 8, 2006
THE Prime Minister might believe Ricky Ponting is reacting reasonably to jibes from cricket wag Phil Tufnell over Australia's Ashes defeat, but the Australia captain is being given no sympathy by FOXSPORTS.com.au readers.
A poll today asking readers if the Australia team is thin-skinned is recording resounding results against Ponting's assertion it isn't - a whopping 80 per cent disagree with the Australia captain.
Ponting, who was upset because of Tufnell's broadcast Ashes ribbing during a night when the Tasmanian should have been ecstatic at winning his second Allan Border medal, admitted yesterday the comments had struck a raw nerve.
But he denied either he or his players were "thin-skinned".
"I don't think that means we're precious or anything like that," he said.
"We're there to enjoy the night for what it is and we had to sit there and go through that sort of stuff.
"Looking back in a week or two it will probably be quite funny, but at the Australian cricket team's night of nights for the whole year, I didn't think the timing was that good. It got my back up at the time."
Prime Minister and cricket tragic John Howard also defended Ponting's men resolutely today, and saved special praise for the first Australia captain to surrender the little urn to England for close to two decades.
"He's very fond of the game, and I think you've got to bear that in mind before making harsh judgments," Mr Howard said.
"I think there are occasions where the constant glare of publicity and the constant need to give press conferences and to give answers leads to (controversial comments).
Arguably what stuck sharpest in Ponting's craw was Tufnell's criticism of the captain's decision to bowl at Edgbaston in the second Test, knowing he was without his best fast bowler in Glenn McGrath, who'd fallen injured on the morning of the game.
Tufnell reacted with hysterical amazement when he was informed of Ponting's reaction to the skit overnight.
"My advice to Ricky and the boys would be to enjoy life before it's all gone," the former England spin bowler said.
Channel 9 had organised the broadcast with Tufnell, but the former England spinner claimed he knew nothing about when it would be broadcast. "What's the Allan Border medal?" he said, despite Nine executives promising yesterday to fly the "Cat" over for some payback should Australia win the Ashes in 2006/2007.
FOX SPORTS
