Australian captain Ricky Ponting asserted on Thursday that his team should not get distracted by the dressing-room incident that resulted in the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially reprimanding him.
“It’s probably turned into something bigger than I expected, I must admit, but I’m trying to move on from it now. I met with the referee last night, and obviously accepted the reprimand that came my way. I understand the action of mine caused damage in the change rooms which led to the breach of the code of conduct,” he said on the eve of Australia’s clash with New Zealand here.
“I’m glad they listened to the events that unfolded. I explained the whole story, the fact I was sitting near the television, the fact that I’d sat in my seat and taken my pads and gloves off, and then stood up and threw my box, and it bounced off my bag and hit the TV.
They were good in listening in what I had to say and not overreacting too much to the other pressures that may have been out there.”
Ponting hoped that now the matter will be as everybody understands the story that is out there and that the damage was accidental.
“I met with the [ICC match] referee [Roshan Mahanama] last night, and he accepted the reprimand that came my way, and I understand the action of mine caused damage in the change rooms, which led to the breach of the code of conduct.
“I got that out last night, but we have to move on as quick as we can, and hopefully everybody understands the story that is out there.”
Meanwhile, Ponting also said that his batsmen must become more proficient at playing spinners square of the wicket.
“It was a good experience for our guys to face a bit of that the other day against Zimbabwe. New Zealand have McCullum and Vettori as well as Scott Styris who will take the pace of the ball as well and James Franklin might bowl a couple overs and Jacob Oram, who will take the pace off the ball,” he said.
“So right through the middle overs again tomorrow we’re going to be facing a lot of off-pace type bowling, so we’ll be well-prepared for that,” he added.