Why ‘poles apart’ Ponting and Warne are destined to end up sparring

SYDNEY - The blow-up between Australian captain Ricky Ponting and former spinner Shane Warne has come as no surprise as the two are very different characters, a noted cricket columnist has said.

Writing in Fox Sports, Ben Dorries highlighted that even the gambling habits of Ponting and Warne are poles apart.

“Back in his days as a blue-collar bachelor, Ponting was mad keen on the greyhounds and the trots. The night before the 1997 Ashes tour he took a ride with his trainer from Launceston to Hobart to see one of his dogs win,” Dorries wrote.

“By contrast, Warne is a high roller on the poker tables. He travels the world to play in tournaments with his flash sunglasses on. He adores the limelight and being surrounded by fellow celebrities,” he added.

He stressed that Ponting is a nuts-and-bolts man whereas Warne is far more instinctive and cavalier, which is reflected in their different views on captaincy.

Dorries also highlighted that Warne has never really endorsed Ponting’s leadership.

“It goes back to Ponting getting the Test captaincy in 2004 ahead of Warne, when the leg-spinner desperately coveted the role,” Dorries said.

“Their relationship deteriorated further during the 2005 Ashes over Ponting’s ill-fated decision to bowl first at Edgbaston, despite losing Glenn McGrath to injury on the first morning before play,” he added.

He further labeled Warne as the best captain Australia never had.

“Despite all his off-field troubles, Warne was always as sharp as a tack on the cricket field and one of the best attacking minds going around. He was a leader of men and roused the very best out of everyone around him,” Dorries said.

“He knew how to work out a batsman, knew what made bowlers click and knew how to wriggle out of almost any situation,” he added. (ANI)