Media turns the heat on poor leader Ponting

Melbourne:

As if the prospect of losing Australia's first Test at Lord's in 75 years is not bad enough, Ricky Ponting now finds himself at the receiving end of the media wrath here for his poor gamesmanship in the second Ashes Test.

Ponting was controversially given out caught at slip on day two by umpire Rudi Koertzen which could not impress the Australian captain.

On day three, Ponting's frustration boiled over when Nathan Hauritz's diving effort to catch Ravi Bopara was turned down by the video umpire.

Ponting had angry words with Koertzen over the contentious catch and star England batsman Kevin Pietersen also got involved with the Australian captain.

A writer in 'Sunday Telegraph' said Ponting, who has become Australia's second most experienced captain, should not have set bad examples as a leader.

"His (Ponting's) annoyed discussion with Koertzen and toe to toe confrontation with Pietersen was a bad look. The Laws of Cricket make it clear that the captains are responsible for upholding the spirit of cricket.

"Ponting has become less demonstrative than he used to be talking to umpires but still spends too much time doing it. It is a part of his game which international opponents have confided they do not like," he said.