Symonds issue hyped up by media: Ponting

When it comes to the Australian team, there are always a couple of sledging stories doing the rounds. However, after the Vadodara...

When it comes to the Australian team, there are always a couple of sledging stories doing the rounds. However, after the Vadodara and Nagpur incidents, where it was reported that Andrew Symonds was racially abused by members of the crowd, another story is floating around.

Today, Ricky Ponting gave his take on the issue and said that they wanted to move on and it was in fact, the Indian media which had hyped it all up. “Yes, Andrew was racially abused, but I think he has not made too much of the comments. We didn’t report the matter, but it was the press here that played up the issue and generated so many stories about it,” said Ponting on the sidelines of a promotional function held here in a city hotel.

It seemed that the Australian skipper had forgotten that it was the media Down Under which had reported it first.

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Interestingly, Ponting was quick to add that Symonds had dealt with the issue in a sensible manner and had not reported the matter to the Match Referee. “It was after reports appeared in the media that the Match Referee asked about it. We aren’t making this a big deal, but at the same time we want to ensure that such stuff is totally eradicated from all grounds around the world. It has no place in sport,” Ponting added.

The Australian team’s arrival to the city was delayed when the aircraft they were in suffered a bird hit and had to make an emergency landing at Nagpur. “At one stage, we thought we wouldn’t make it to Mumbai,” Ponting quipped.

Australian pacer Brett Lee too was quite diplomatic on the Symonds issue. “There is no ill-feeling at all between the teams and we are playing by the rules. The issue has been blow out of proportion by the media. We just go out there and perform as entertainers,” pointed out Lee.

He also assured that their relationship with their hosts has been better than ever before. “What you are seeing on television is competitive cricket and two teams fighting it out. There may have been a few words exchanged, but neither team has crossed the line. If you see us off the field, both teams get along very well. We respect the Indian team a lot.”

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