Ollie Robinson knocks over Usman Khawaja for 141.Credit:AP
“A lot of this stuff happens in the heat of battle,” Ponting told Sky Sports in Birmingham,where he is commentating on the Test. “The only thing I’d say with Ollie yesterday is Khawaja was 140,Robinson hasn’t looked like getting a wicket all day,and he’s just sledged probably the nicest man that’s ever walked on the planet.
“The flip side of what happened,and I understand it,I’m no saint as far as this stuff is concerned,but on one hand Ollie Robinson is giving him a send-off and on the other hand Joe Root is running across to shake his hand and pat him on the back and say well played.
“That’s the contrast of maybe a bowler who is toiling away and is a little bit frustrated,and a fielder that sat back and watched a really good Test match innings.”
The International Cricket Council’s code of conduct,section 2.5,prohibits any kind of “send-off” including “verbally abusing the dismissed batter”.
It is a level one offence that can attract a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee if the player is charged and pleads or is found guilty. England’s player match fees are £15,000 ($28,000).
The ICC claimed on Tuesday that there had been no contact from match referee Andy Pycroft regarding the incident.