Sirius Data

I was lucky enough to be at Lords when 13 wickets fell on the Friday. It should be remembered that the Lords crowd clapped loudly & positively for Ricky Ponting when he was giving his after match speech and he had a good banter back. Subsequent booing is being whipped up & exacerbated by inaccurate & semi-wild media comment, which indeed has now got out of hand particularly at the end of the Headingly test. At least some sections had the equanimity to boo Strauss for our appalling performance! That said, Ricky Ponting deserves much respect for the way he has conducted himself. It didn’t help Strauss getting right under their skin and making them a better, more determined, more focused unit by suggesting they have no aura. Might have been true, but this has galvanised them into being a better team.