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By Will 4 years ago, mid-January Add your comment below
Lou Rowan, former Test umpire, has branded Ricky Ponting a ’smart arse’ and says he’s a disgrace to his country. Just put this up on Cricinfo.
“Ponting is a smart arse and a disaster as leader. The conduct of him and his players is absolutely disgraceful,” Rowan told Fox Sports. “He has no control over his players. It is an insult to former players and people associated with the game.”
Thoughts?
Tags: bullshit, cricinfo, disgrace, lou-rowan, ricky-ponting, sledging |
Wow, not holding back then! I must admit I haven’t followed Australian cricket too closely, but my impression of Ponting on the field at the ashes (Pratt excepted) and at press conferences was pretty good. OK, to lose the Ashes is a minor disaster, but if your batsmen keep getting out…
I’m surprised that an umpire (even an ex-umpire) would come out with sort of stuff. I prefer my mental image of umpires being aloof and fair.
I would agree with that to some extent, but maybe not those extremes. Ponting can’t be called the sharpest branch on the tree, but he isn’t a “disaster as leader”.
What’s fair game?
What constitutes “fair gameâ€? For that matter, what signifies “unfair gameâ€? Today, Ricky Ponting was labelled a ‘disgrace’ and a ’smart arse’ by former Test umpire Lou Rowan for Australia’s sledging and general misdemeanours in the re…
Wow… where did that come from?!
I don’t think ponting is all bad after look at his off late performances!
They’ve been no short of superb!
Punter has made a few dodgy decisions, but show me a cricket captain that never ever got it wrong! Aussies have a reputation for sledging and all that, but must admit that I think these comments, especially from an umpire are a bit hard.
Ben (four comments up) has nailed it in my opinion. I agree with some of these criticisms (especially what Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor has said in this area) and I am even a slight critic of Ponting (captaincy only not batting!!) especailly when compared to his recent predecessors, but these words are way to strong, from an ageing former umpire that had his own share of problems.
Ponting’s been petulant at times, got himelf into arguments he can’t win and probably shown some poor errors of judgement, but I too am surprised at Lou Rowan’s ferocity. If Ponting’s a disaster then there are any number of countries that would like a few bricks from his crumbling building.
I thinkPonting is the kind who could easily not endear himself to many people. He smacks of arrogance often enough, even if it is not entirely true. I can understand him not being a universal favourite, but I think Mr Rowan might have just lost the plot a bit in his prime
Losing the Ashes IS a disaster, and Ponting merits the sack for that alone.
Having said that, since they haven’t sacked him, he hasn’t done too much wrong; West Indies thrashed, ICC thrashed, South Africa well beaten and plenty of runs from his own bat.
This umpire is like, 80 years old. Even the guys that aren’t senile at that age go for overkill. If Ponting was this bad a leader, why wasn’t Rowan speaking up in 2003 when Australia went through the World Cup undefeated?
In reply to Scott.
Who would have listened or asked his opinion in 2003. They only ask these questions when something goes wrong and so that is itself a sign something’s gone wrong.
I’m equally perplexed by Rowan’s comments. And I’m in a library, with just 30 secs left on the clock, so will catch up on this on Sunday, ciao for now..
grumpy old men…
I happen to admire punter a lot. I got to watch a lot of the recent Aus v SA series (hurrah for my mum and sky), and thought he did a pretty decent job, not just as captain but also as batman. Unfortunately, he looks like the lovechild of an unholy alliance between Ian Hislop and George W. Bush, for which I simply cannot forgive him…
batsman, I mean, duh
I don’t particularly like the guy, and how can he compare with Taylor and Waugh as a captain and a gentleman . . . but at least he’s not Graeme Smith!
I wonder if the apparent increase in questioning the umpires and demanding an explanation for every decision has led to this outburst? I think the Aussies are demonstrating more and more arrogance and rudeness through their appealing and arguing with umpires, than they used to under Waugh. They appear a less professional unit now, and I suppose Ponting is predominantly responsible for the standard of behaviour from his players on the field. Having said that, are they justified in their behaviour to the umpires, given the quality of decisions recently? I still think not, although that opens a whole other can of worms . . .
I don’t think Ponting commands the same respect amongst his players as his predecessors Waugh, Taylor or Border. But he has come a long way, especially as a batsman. When Ponting himself doesn’t hold himself back, how can one expect discipline from his team? He’s no stranger to indiscipline himself.
hello in there
Where was Lou Rowan when Australia won two successive world cups?
How about that brand spanking new ICC Champion’s Trophy sitting in our tropy case?
Fuck knuckles like Rowan only come out and say things during small patches to garner some attention to themselves by attacking better players/individuals than themselves, because he didn’t get any as an umpire himself.
ricky is a smart arse he is good for nothing get a new captain
I’ve never been a great fan of Ponting. But for a former test umpire to say that sort of thing is disgraceful.
I’ve read Rowan’s book “The Umpire’s Story”, and quite frankly, it seems to me that he had an over-inflated sense of his own importance.
I wonder what John Snow would think of the remark?
Absolutely agree. He is a worthless piece of trash, foul mouthed and vile, unsporting and a black mark on this honorable game. He is a cheater at heart and should be banned from all forms of the game.
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