Andrew Strauss Denies Time-wasting As England Scramble to Dramatic Draw
Andrew Strauss last night denied his team had contravened the spirit of the game after Ricky Ponting accused England of 'pretty ordinary' time-wasting tactics in the final stages in Cardiff
Andrew Strauss last night denied his team had contravened the spirit of the game after the Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, accused England of "pretty ordinary" time-wasting tactics in the fraught final stages of the drawn first Test in Cardiff.
England sent on their 12th man, Bilal Shafayat, twice in the space of five minutes – the second time accompanied by their physio, Steve McCaig – as the last pair of Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar kept Australia's bowlers at bay for 69 nerve-racking deliveries, prompting an irritated Ponting to declare the matter would be taken up with the England management.
But Strauss was unrepentant. "There was a lot of confusion to be fair," he said. "We first sent the 12th man out to let Jimmy and Monty know there was a time issue rather than just overs. And then some drink was spilled on his gloves and, when Jimmy called up to the dressing room, we weren't sure whether he needed the 12th man or the physio.
"If Ricky's angry, that's a shame. I don't think we were deliberately trying to waste a huge amount of time. They weren't our tactics, as both of the guys were playing pretty well in the middle. The reality of the situation is that Australia couldn't take that final wicket and we got away with the draw."
Ponting saw the matter differently after his side failed to make the breakthrough that would have given Australia a 1-0 lead in the series going into Thursday's second Test at Lord's and a fifth-straight win in the opening match of an Ashes contest. "It was pretty ordinary," he said of England's tactics. "They can play whatever way they want to play. We will do everything we can to play by the rules and the spirit of the game. I don't think it was required. They had changed gloves before, so I'm not sure they were going to be too sweaty after one over. I am not sure what the physio was doing out there. I think a few guys were questioning the umpires. I think a few guys were also questioning the 12th man. I am sure others will be taking it up with the England hierarchy as they should."
Ponting did, however, play down a potential flash point before the start of play when Kevin Pietersen hit a practice ball towards the Australian contingent and was briefly confronted by Mitchell Johnson, only for Stuart Clark to step in and prevent further trouble.
Ultimately, though, Ponting was left to reflect on the one that got away. "I'm pretty disappointed we weren't quite good enough to get over the line at the end," he said. "We did everything in our power to get those wickets but stumbled at the last hurdle."
Ponting mind games, page 3
England sent on their 12th man, Bilal Shafayat, twice in the space of five minutes – the second time accompanied by their physio, Steve McCaig – as the last pair of Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar kept Australia's bowlers at bay for 69 nerve-racking deliveries, prompting an irritated Ponting to declare the matter would be taken up with the England management.
But Strauss was unrepentant. "There was a lot of confusion to be fair," he said. "We first sent the 12th man out to let Jimmy and Monty know there was a time issue rather than just overs. And then some drink was spilled on his gloves and, when Jimmy called up to the dressing room, we weren't sure whether he needed the 12th man or the physio.
"If Ricky's angry, that's a shame. I don't think we were deliberately trying to waste a huge amount of time. They weren't our tactics, as both of the guys were playing pretty well in the middle. The reality of the situation is that Australia couldn't take that final wicket and we got away with the draw."
Ponting saw the matter differently after his side failed to make the breakthrough that would have given Australia a 1-0 lead in the series going into Thursday's second Test at Lord's and a fifth-straight win in the opening match of an Ashes contest. "It was pretty ordinary," he said of England's tactics. "They can play whatever way they want to play. We will do everything we can to play by the rules and the spirit of the game. I don't think it was required. They had changed gloves before, so I'm not sure they were going to be too sweaty after one over. I am not sure what the physio was doing out there. I think a few guys were questioning the umpires. I think a few guys were also questioning the 12th man. I am sure others will be taking it up with the England hierarchy as they should."
Ponting did, however, play down a potential flash point before the start of play when Kevin Pietersen hit a practice ball towards the Australian contingent and was briefly confronted by Mitchell Johnson, only for Stuart Clark to step in and prevent further trouble.
Ultimately, though, Ponting was left to reflect on the one that got away. "I'm pretty disappointed we weren't quite good enough to get over the line at the end," he said. "We did everything in our power to get those wickets but stumbled at the last hurdle."
Ponting mind games, page 3
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