
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has mocked Indian cricketers by describing their aggression in the first two one-dayers as 8220;fake8221; and saying the hosts cowered after match referee8217;s warning for on-field exchanges in Kochi.
Ponting and his Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni were asked to ascertain peaceful proceedings in the series after plenty of 8216;aggression8217; was on display in the second ODI at Kochi which kept the match officials on toes. The subsequent match in Hyderabad went without any fireworks.
8220;As soon as any words were said at all on the field, Dhoni went and complained to the umpires, so they have gone from one extreme to the other in a matter of two days,8221; Ponting said referring to the third ODI.
8220;It shows just how fake the first part of the series was as far as they are concerned,8221; he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
Ponting claimed that match referee Chris Broad praised him during a flight to Chandigarh on Saturday for the improved
behaviour of his players in the third game.
8220;He congratulated me for the way the team approached the game,8221; Ponting said.
8220;There has been a lot made of the series so far, but when the tough moments have come on the field we have stood up and got the job done,8221; he said.