The Hindu : Sport : Racism cannot be accepted: Ponting

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Sunday, Oct 14, 2007
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Sport

Racism cannot be accepted: Ponting

Special Correspondent

Nagpur: Ricky Ponting said “racism cannot be accepted in any part of the world.” The Australian captain was replying to a question on Andrew Symonds being allegedly taunted racially by a section of the crowd in Vadodara.

Ponting said Symonds was a bit upset initially but recovered soon. He added that if Match Referee Chris Broad had witnessed the incident, he would send a report on the alleged abuse to the International Cricket Council (ICC). Broad has been tight-lipped on the issue so far.

The Aussie skipper said his team would approach Sunday’s game here like a final. He appreciated the efforts from his men so far, the performance of paceman Mitchell Johnson in particular.

No longer so difficult

He said touring India was no longer as difficult as in the past because the campaigns here have become more frequent and the cricketers are learning and using the experience. He singled out pace bowling coach Troy Cooley for managing injuries and improving the effectiveness of the pacemen in different conditions.

Asked about the lack of runs from Rahul Dravid’s blade so far, Ponting said Dravid was a class batsman and should be back in form soon.

India’s left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan said the bowlers would be seeking to strike initially to put Australia under pressure. He added India would have to play positive cricket.

Queried about the presence of three left-arm pacemen in the Indian attack, Zaheer said it actually brought more variation to the attack. “The left-arm pacemen can bowl from acute angles, and all three of us (himself, R.P. Singh and Irfan Pathan) are different kind of bowlers,” he elaborated.

Zaheer said a break after the tour of England (he was rested for the ICC World Twenty20) had kept him fresh.

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