After such a fantastic 1st test with the dramatic, gritty conclusion, it seems a shame that the focus has been on Australian captain Ricky Ponting moaning again.
Ponting's argument that England bringing on the physio and 12th man to waste time between overs was against the spirit of the game was probably a valid one. But it did it make any difference to the result? No. The final over needed to be started before 6.40pm. The final over finished at 6.43pm. The physio and 12th man were not on the field for longer than three minutes and therefore made not a jot of difference.
This is the very same Ricky Ponting that was warned for time wasting by Steve Bucknor in the 3rd Ashes test in 2005 at Old Trafford on the 4th day. You will remember that Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee hung on on the final day with Australia nine down. No England moans then.
Ponting has also been in trouble with the ICC for various misdemeanours in his time and along with his refusal to "walk" and excessive appealing, he is proving himself to be very hypocritical indeed by making such comments.
Ponting's rant also seems to further undermine his ability to captain under pressure. It's not difficult to captain when you have Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in your side, but Ponting is now discovering that captaining a test side is not so easy.
It was about time that a situation like Sunday went in in England's favour. They should have won the Boxing Day test at Durban 2004 (when South Africa went off for bad light after Makhaya Ntini had hit 16 off the last over with the home side eight down). They should have won that Old Trafford test in 2005. And they should have won in both Antigua and Trinidad only last winter with West Indies holding on (with even more obvious time wasting tactics employed).
No, it was entirely just that something like that went in England's favour. And Ponting should realise, what goes around, comes around.
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