Ponting should have been suspended: Chappell

Melbourne:

Former captain Ian Chappell feels that current Australian skipper Ricky Ponting should have been suspended instead of just being docked 40 per cent of his match fee for his ugly confrontation with the umpires in the fourth Ashes Test against England here on Monday.

With his team struggling on the field against England, Ponting had a demonstrative face-to-face argument with Aleem Dar pointing his finger at the Pakistani umpire after Kevin Pietersen was adjudged not to have edged the ball for a caught behind.

Ponting then turned his attention to the square leg umpire Tony Hill as a group of Australian players crowded Dar.

Video umpire Marais Erasmus gave Pietersen not out after a hot spot replay failed to show an inside edge following a half-hearted appeal referred by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

Peter Siddle was also involved initially by giving verbal support Ponting but the speedster was lucky to escape sanction.

Chappell feels Ponting's behaviour was unacceptable and that he has overstepped the mark.

"When I was playing it was quite clear in the laws you could discuss a point of law but you weren't allowed to argue a point of judgement. If I was adjudicating I'd think it was a suspendable offence," Chappell said.

"And it's not like it's the first time he (Ponting) has done it. I think the ICC are in part to blame, not for him arguing today, but if you want to stop those sort of things you've got to stop them straight away, the first time it happens," Chappell was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Ponting's first captain, Mark Taylor, also believes the Australian captain harmed the standing of himself and his team by arguing with the umpires and Pietersen.

"I don't mind a bit of a confrontation between players occasionally. I think that's good for the game, but you have to draw a line (with the umpires)," said Taylor.

"It (the referral system) is in place, it's been used, it's given not out. Replays showed he wasn't out. You've just got to get on with the game. The decision came from upstairs. Theres no point arguing with the umpires. They're just relaying the message.

"You've got to ask yourself what is the point of the conversation because the umpire is not going to reverse his decision, particularly when your mate upstairs has looked at the replay and maybe got it right," said Taylor.

Former England captain Tony Greig felt that Ponting was out of order and Siddle should also have been in trouble.

"I don't know what Peter Siddle was doing there waving his finger."