Warne and Ponting rift

[acker]

Australia rocked by Warne and Ponting bust-up

Cricinfo staff

August 14, 2005


http://content.cricinfo.com/inline/c...6010.jpg?alt=1
Warne and Ponting: not on best of terms © Getty Images

Story link
http://content.cricinfo.com/australi...ry/216017.html

[Occasional Fan]

Interesting, but take it with a pinch of salt. Sunday newspaper stuff, and, as is so often the case, a report not attributed to anyone specifically. While there's probably no smoke without fire, there's a world of difference between a professional disagreement which could easily have happened and a "stand up row", which guys at this level of their profession probably, in my view, don't do. It's not as if we are talking about a pair of teenagers here.

[greg]

There have been articles in the last 2 Sunday's about Kevin Pietersen's sexual activities too.I take all of it with a pinch of salt.The bust up between Warne and Ponting may well have happened but like Keane and Ferguson falling out at Man United States it would have only happened because they both want to win so badly and will quickly have been forgotten.

[Paoli]

Don't believe that Warne and Ponting had a bust up. May have been a little "Why didn't you bowl me earlier" but not too much.

KP's sexual activity? Of course the bloke would get up to it a fair bit, but he is single I suppose, not doing anything wrong.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

not doing anything wrong.

Even if he is doing something "wrong" it is between him and his near/dear ones and certainly not a matter for public interest or speculation.

[greg]

It is when they sell the stories in a kiss and tell though.Feel sorry for any woman who has to do that.How low can you go.

[Aussie-Yank]

Both McGrath and Gilly have denied that it ever occurred. McGrath stating that he would contact the writer of the article for his article to see what drives a person to make up a story.

[Ernest]

Seems they can't find fault with the cricket, so back to the players, load of rubbish, I would rather read an article how to get Warne out soon.

[acker]

Well maybe the cold icy silence during Shane & Ricky's one an a half hour match saving partnership gave each of them the resolve of not letting the other one get the pleasure of seeing their back walking to the pavillion.

It may have been the fight this family needed to have, and its obvious everyone has decided that young Dizzy is being kicked out of home permanently:

[Seamer]

While i think tabloids are full of it normally, i actually think there is some truth to this story (embelished though). My brother and i were discussing this a few days ago and came to the concusion that something was going down behind the scenes.
On the first day when Australia were getting tonked around (Edgebaton test) the camera was consantly going to Warne and Ponting. It seemed that Warne was arguing with Ponting and that Ponting was trying his best to ignore him. This went on the whole day. There was no mistaking the body language between the two as well - crossed arms, Ponting avoiding eye contact, sour faces.
When Warne came out to bat in the Aussie first innings, he played absolutely stupidly as if he was trying to immitate the Aussie top order - if you are going to throw your wicket away, then so will i!, seemed to be the point he was trying to make.
When batting in the Aussie second innings, Warne for the first time ever, was demoted to #9 in the batting line up. He then went on and played a sensible innings as if saying to the Aussie top order - THIS is how you bat you show-ponies! He made a well constructed 40 odd and got us back in the game. He then repeated the performance in the third test with a 90 so he was topping the Aussie bowling and batting averages.
Ponting not to be outdone, then scored a glorious 150 to ensure he was at the top of the batting pile. At the other end, Warene was doing his best to outlast Ponting so he could still be at the top of the batting pile
If you ask me, those performance in the third test were not Ponting and Warne vs England. It was Ponting vs Warne.
There IS a power struggle going on behind the scenes IMO. The Aussie team does not look like a unit. They seem divided and perhaps this is why they are under-performing. Can't wait till one of the team retires and publishes a book so i can hear the full story.