The two faces of Australian cricket

There has been some very special activity at the Sydney Cricket Ground this time, and it’s not all about VVS Laxman. It’s about the two faces of Australian players —- of Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds.

Ponting showed exemplary sportsmanship when he immediately told Rahul Dravid that he had not taken the catch neatly —- Ponting’s palm wasn’t closed and the ball touched the ground. Interestingly, Dravid, who was on 47 then, had started to walk back thinking he was out when Ponting indicated otherwise. It was Dravid’s fourth reprieve in his innings and Australia were reeling under the partnership between Dravid and Laxman but Ponting played a gentleman even under those circumstances.

That was in complete contrast to Andrew Symonds not walking off the field after getting a nick and then later admitting to it — a confession that had no connection to his action on-field. Symonds had a few good lessons to learn from his skipper and vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, who had famously walked off after edging a ball when the umpire ruled him not out a year back.