Ponting reveals he had a heated exchange with fan at Edgbaston

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 22:46

RICKY Ponting accepts his pantomime villain role in this summer's Ashes simply "goes with the territory" for a touring Australia captain.

On the eve of the fourth npower Test at Headingley, where an England victory would see the hosts regain the Ashes, Ponting confirmed he was involved in a heated exchange with a fan at Edgbaston last weekend.

Ponting, 34, has been the target of English supporters' boos most of the summer, and Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan has pledged to prevent spectators getting close to the players in Leeds.

Confirming last Sunday's incident in Birmingham, Ponting recalled: "There were some words exchanged. The spectator was actually leaning over the front of the grandstand and he gave me a bit of a gob-full when I got out.

"As it turned out, he was later thrown out of the ground – so it would appear he was probably in the wrong."

Asked why he thinks he has become such a favoured target of home fans, including the self-styled Barmy Army contingent, Ponting made it clear it is not an issue which is giving him sleepless nights as he contemplates the tougher task of trying to help Australia retain the Ashes from 1-0 down with two to play.

"I don't know because I haven't thought about it," Ponting said. "It hasn't worried me right from the start. It might just come with the territory of being Australian captain.

"The Barmy Army are, as I have always said, the best group of sports supporters in any sport that I've seen around the world. They come to the cricket to enjoy themselves. It's small minorities that make days disappointing for others.

"It's been pretty well-documented over the last few weeks that I've probably copped a little bit from the crowd. But it certainly wasn't a big deal at all, just a few words he directed at me.

"It's part and parcel of what we do. It happens everywhere around the world, and it's no bigger deal here in this series than what it has been in others I've played.

Meantime, Australia must decide whether it is safe to unleash their own recuperating game-breaker. While England face a last-minute decision on whether Andrew Flintoff, the Australia selectors need to make what is potentially an even trickier call on Brett Lee.

The equation for Ponting's tourists is perhaps more critical than England's. If they wait until the final match at the Oval before deciding strike bowler Lee has sufficiently recovered from the side strain which has ruled him out so far this summer, it may be too late.

If they take an unwise gamble and fast bowler Lee is unable to deliver, the Ashes could be over with the urn back in England's keeping by early next week.

Ponting did not speak yesterday like a man prepared to take any undue risks, when asked for his opinion on the Lee conundrum. "I'm sure what the selectors will be thinking about now is whether he has done enough bowling at full pace to warrant selection in a Test match. It's not just one day of bowling; it could be two or three, successive."

Lee's recovery has been a frustrating sideshow for Australia, after he suffered the side strain in a tour match against the England Lions in Worcester at the start of last month.

"The injury probably went on a little bit longer than Brett would have liked, or we all would have liked," added Ponting. "I think he's only had a couple of days of bowling at 100 per cent. We'll have to listen to what he has to say about how he is feeling, but more importantly weigh up where we are in the series and whether we can go with a guy who has only bowled a couple of days at full pace."

But Lee did not appear to be holding back in the nets yesterday as Australia put in some hard yards – and Ponting was encouraged by some of what he saw from him. "Brett ran in as hard as he has for a long time – most of us batters were on the end of a few short ones," he reported.

Should Australia resist the Lee risk they must consider whether to stick with the same team which fought back to draw the third Test at Edgbaston, or perhaps recall seamer Stuart Clark – at the possible expense of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

The fitness or otherwise of wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, who is recovering from a broken finger, and key batsman Michael Clarke (stomach strain) are other variables muddying the waters for the tourists.

Asked about the potential destabilising effect of England's uncertainty over Flintoff, Ponting believes his opponents have no choice in the matter.

"When that player is as important as Andrew is for their set-up, I think you give him every opportunity to pass himself fit," he said.