'That’s the contrast of maybe a bowler who is toiling away and is a little bit frustrated' - Ricky Ponting responds to Ollie Robinson for dragging him into send-off row

Ricky Ponting, former Australia skipper, reacted to England pacer Ollie Robinson's remark on him during the ongoing Ashes Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Robinson erupted into an expletive-filled outburst after getting the wicket of Aussie Usman Khawaja in the first Test and later faced plenty of criticism for the same. However, he claimed that Ponting and other Australian cricketers have done the same to England previously. 

Khawaja hit a ton in Australia's first innings and guided the Pat Cummins-led side to score 386 runs. The Aussie opener, top-scored for the visitors, smashing 141 off 321, with the help of 14 boundaries and three maximums. Earlier England skipper Joe Root declared at 393/8, with Joe Root (118* off 152) scoring a ton. 

Ponting told Sky Sports that, on Day 3 (June 18) Khawaja was on 140 and Robinson hadn't looked like grabbing a wicket all day and had just sledged possibly.

“A lot of this stuff happens in the heat of battle. The only thing I‘d say with Ollie [on Sunday] is Khawaja was on 140, Robinson hadn’t looked like getting a wicket all day, and he’s just sledged probably the nicest man that’s ever walked on the planet," Ponting said.

Furthermore, the Australian great opined that Ollie Robinson was probably frustrated after having worked hard to get a wicket during the whole day and with someone like Usman Khawaja who batted for close to four sessions in the ongoing first Ashes Test. Moreover, apart from bowling, Robinson also had to be out there in the field for a long time and just watch the game progressing like some spectator.

“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,” Ponting added.

I was a little bit surprised by Robinson's remark just because it’s so long ago: Ponting

Ollie Robinson dragged the former Aussie captain into the discussion by bringing up his famous Ashes blow-up in 2005. To which, Ponting said that he was a little taken aback by the English pacer's comment, given how long ago the incident was. He added that it would be acceptable if he had used one of the current players as an example as he hasn't played in 11 years.

“I was sitting back having some pizza and watching the US Open golf, and my phone lit up with what he had to say in his press conference. 

“I was a little bit surprised just because it’s so long ago. If he had used one of the current players as an example, then fine, but I haven’t played for 11 years and probably haven’t sledged an Englishman for about 15. He must have a long memory," the former cricketer added.