Quote:
Ponting was in no mood for diplomacy. "I think it is an absolute disgrace the spirit of the game is being treated like that," he said. "[Duncan] Fletcher has known right the way through the summer this is something we haven't been happy with, but it's continued. He knows it's something that has got under our skins and I've had enough of it, and I let him know that, and most of his players too.
"Being here in England they've obviously got the resources to just draft in the best fieldsmen that they possibly can at the time. The way they've been doing it is just before their bowlers are about to bowl they'll send them off for a short amount of time to have a bit of a loosen-up and a massage and that sort of stuff, and come back on and bowl. As soon as they've finished their spell they'll do exactly the same thing. It's within the rules of the game but it's just not within the spirit of the game, which is what we're all trying to uphold."
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It's a hard question to answer. What England have done sure is wrong; I understand a few players can't even get into the county teams, but still, it is within the rules so therefore considered ok. But; how do the ICC tighten up on this? When the squad is named, I expect Tremlett goes back to play for Hants (Does he?) and then if a player goes off you are left with no option. Perhaps only players who play for the team that the city of the test match is in?
Discuss.