Ponting Scathing at England's use of substitutes.

[Moss]

A very entertaining article, thanks for that.

I think Cricket Girl gave some excellent "evidence" that completely nullifies Ponting's claims in another thread.

[Paoli]

I have moved this thread in order to preserve the quality of the Australia forum. Some of the comments from some members are blatant digressions of the sanctuary rule. Although this is just a neutral forum, should what happened in the Aus. forum happen here, I will have to close the thread.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Only her 'evidence' was incorrect and therefore misleading. The thread's been deleted, but she claimed that Brett Lee regularly was excused from 12th man duties in Oz. Thing is, last seaon he didn't get to play a single first class match largely because the Oz team would not release him from his duties. He even missed the season final fulfilling his duties to the test team in a match that he didn't play in. So she actually misinterpreted (or more likely just couldn't be bothered with doing the research) on the strongest part of the Aussie argument to suit her own argument. Hmmm

[Henners]

i just got on, and the guy who ran him out, Pratt, wasn't he on for the injured simon jones????like hodge was on for the injured clarke at old trafford??

[Leafy Seadragon]

The issue wasn't this particular example, but what the Aussies see as the systematic relief of players by the 12th man to enable players to get backrubs, chat with Duncan Fletcher, get physio treatment, go shopping with their wives, etc. The fact that it was the extra fielder that ran him out, who some suggested had probably spent more time on the ground during the summer than either team or the umpires, that brought the issue to a head. I don't agree with the practice, but nor do I agree with the way the complaints have recently been made by Ponting et al.

[gaurav3785]

its laughable really!australia promoting the spirit of cricket.dont they remember the famous underarm incident,mcgrath spitting at lara,sarwan-mcgrath spat,mcgrath bowling way outside the off stump to cairns when nzl where bout to win,slater swearing at dravid tht he should have walked..i can go on and on.