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Australia's Ricky Ponting fumbles with the ball - Source: Reuters -
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The English press have taken great delight in Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's disastrous day in the field at Lord's in the second Ashes Test.
"WHAT A SILLY RICK!" roared the News of the World after Ponting missed a golden opportunity to run out Kevin Pietersen and then grassed a simple catch at slips off Ravi Bopara five balls later on day three.
The mistake was played out on the big screen at the home of cricket over and over again to the increasing delight of the crowd and only enhanced Ponting's frustrations as the contest spun out of his control.
"Punter had the chance to send England into a tailspin of doubt. And blew it. Mug Punter, more like it," the Sunday tabloid continued.
"And that was the moment which, to raucous approval, was screened more often than Eastenders."
On The Observer's website, it said the hard-nosed Ponting was copping flak from all directions.
"Ricky Ponting must be wondering when he became a cartoon baddie," it said.
"Even Australian thespians are sledging him now.
"With all the gravitas of someone who once captained an Australian XI against an English one in the "Hollywood Ashes", Russell Crowe theorised live on television that Ponting's men are no longer the dogs of war of old.
"... Crowe's thesis, carefully worked out in the VIP enclosure and commentary box, was that Australia have lost their "aggression"."
