Ponting has not won awards in school

The Australian cricket team earns admiration and encomiums for the wonderful manner in which they play the game, that has brought them victory after victory and with it all trophies that are on offer in all forms of cricket

The team is well organised, has talent running right down and they play the game with no quarter asked or given, and they are envied by all other teams.

But apparently success after success seems to have gone to make them lose their heads, if what happened during the presentation ceremony after the ICC Champions trophy is an indication.

What happened to say the least is atrocious and unacceptable of a team of that calibre and has no place in society. And when it is captain Ricky Ponting who is the culprit, then there is no excuse and warrants the condemnation of the whole cricket world.

Ponting had forgotten the axiom of being humble in victory. He probably was lost in the glow of victory and the trophy that had eluded them for so long, that he forgot courtesy and indulged in brusque tactics.

Instead of waiting for the chief guest Shard Pawar who is also the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Minister of Agriculture in the Indian Government to make the presentation, he finger pointed at him and wanted him to get on with it throwing all protocol down under.

Then after the presentation Damien Martyn got into his disrespectful act by pushing the chief guest from the celebrating players so that they could pose for the photographers.

Both abrasive acts were caught on TV and what a shame it was not only for the players, the game and above all for the good name of the country. Shame is the best way to describe the poor sportsmanship of the Australians.

For the young gleefully watching the presentation unfolding on TV it was a bad example and Ponting and Martyn must feel like the Adam of old when he ate of the forbidden fruit. Pawar was no ordinary human. He was a man of stature and standing and deserved respect and not to be kicked around like a football or treated like something the cat brought in.

Pawar has rightly described the incident as uncivilized. I think that it is too lenient a way to describe the ugly incident. Pawar would not have been faulted had he called it by some other name.

It is common courtesy for the recipient of an award when called upon,to first bow, shake hands with the chief guest and gracefully accept the award and thank him for it. That is courtesy that every schoolboy is taught. By Ponting's act it is obvious that he has not won awards in school. Pity.

This is a shortcoming not only in Ponting, but most other captains and some other award winners. Ponting and Martyn as an afterthought have apologised to Pawar. But the stigma would remain which is slur.

Good on the selectors

Asantha de Mel, the chairman and his co-selectors would earn the gratitude of all budding players if they are considered when they sit to pick the squad to New Zealand for a very important tour.

De Mel was on the right wave length when he said that some of the 'A' cricketers have been performing well in India and that some of these players would come into the frame when picking time to Kiwi country comes around.

It is every cricketer's aim to sport the colours of his country. And he expects to be picked when he is performing at peak. And that is something that should not be denied the player.

Cricketers however good if they are not performing, then they must be made to make way for the players who are in form. Not to do so would be to discourage the youngsters.

De Mel and his co-selectors have a duty by those who are performing and knocking on the door for selection.

Sad on Shoaib Akhtar

With the two year suspension slapped on Shoaib Akhtar who was found guilty for drug taking, the game has lost one of its drawcards.

Akhtar tagged the 'Rawalpindi Express' was a sight to behold when he begins his run up, approaching the wicket with hair flopping and breathing fire at all opposing batsmen.

He has hit many a batsman, some of them ducking for dear life with fierce and vicious thunderbolt.

Many a batsman has been jelly-kneed when facing the great bowler.

His suspension is a sad thing to happen to him and the game, because drawcards of his calibre are one in a million. At 31 and if he is forced to spend the two years in the wilderness, then it could signal the end of the game for this great fast bowler.