Ponting apologises for showing dissent towards umpires

MELBOURNE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting Tuesday apologised for arguing with on-field umpires after England batsman Kevin Pietersen was given not out following a video referral on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test.

Ponting was fined 40 percent of his match fees, $5400 approximately, by match referee Ranjan Madugalle Monday for showing dissent towards the umpires.

The Australian captain said the penalty was fair.

“I got caught in the heat of the moment yesterday and went on too long with that chat. I know that we’ve, through this series, kept some footage of different decisions that have been made as far as the use of technology’s concerned, that’s taken up at a higher level. Maybe that’s how I should have handled it yesterday,” Ponting was quoted as saying by ABC Radio.

Ponting said that there was no doubt that his actions on the field Monday have caused a massive public reaction.

“I just wanted to put my points across about it. I understand that I overstepped the mark yesterday, was charged with dissent for having a prolonged discussion with the umpires out in the middle. Looking back at it last night, I realised that it didn’t look good,” he said.

“The umpires vouched for me in the meeting (with the match referee) last night. They said at no time was I actually aggressive or show any malice towards them out there, just that the discussion went longer than it should have. I understand that, I understand I set a bad example for other captains …and youngsters looking up to me as the Australian captain.”

Ponting said he did not resent the extensive negative commentary about his actions.

“I understand the judgements that are being made about me, and a lot of those are because I haven’t scored the runs I’ve needed to score. I understand that, understand that criticism that comes my way at the moment is pretty much warranted. I’ve just got to find a way to get myself out of that,” he said.

Ponting also said he was confident the dispute would not create any enmity between himself and either umpires Aleem Dar or Tony Hill.

“At the end of the day it wasn’t the on-field umpires anyway that made the decision, I was just having that discussion with the guys that were in the middle. I really like the two guys that are officiating this game, I think they’re two of the better umpires in the world. The relationship I’ve had with Aleem Dar over the years has been first-class, so nothing’s changed at all,” he was quoted as saying by Channel Nine.