SYDNEY: Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday threw its weight behind Ricky Ponting and his teammates against accusations of unsporting behaviour and said sparks are bound to fly when the game is Test cricket and not 'tiddlywinks'.
CA chief executive James Sutherland looked unperturbed by the barrage of criticism that has been hurled at Ricky Ponting and his teammates for their arrogance and unsporting behaviour that marred the Sydney Test against India.
According to Sutherland, Ponting and his men might have mouthed a word or two in the heat of the moment but they never overstepped the line.
"Test cricket is what is being played here. It's not tiddlywinks," said Sutherland, asserting Australia always played the game hard but fair.
"It's a tough game and out there from time to time emotions will bubble over and perhaps some of the words that are said will not be acceptable in genteel company. But they are said and that is what happens," he said.
He said Ponting's team was just continuing the tradition of playing tough cricket and this was what they were expected to do.
"The Australian cricket team plays the game tough, tough and uncompromising. It's the way Australian cricket teams have played the game since 1877 under all sorts of different captains."
"That is the way Australians have expected their teams to play," he said.
