Ponting sympathetic about Fleming outburst

Ricky Ponting said Stephen Fleming's stinging comments about the scheduling of the tri-series matches could have been triggered by the vastly different conditions.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on Saturday said Stephen Fleming's stinging comments about the scheduling of the triseries matches could have been triggered by the vastly different conditions and the wickets the two foreign sides have had to cope up with in comparison to hosts India.

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"I think the (Kiwi skipper's) comments are based on the conditions that we (Australia and New Zealand) have had to encounter and the wickets that we've had to play on," Ponting told newspersons here.

Ponting said as per the itinerary New Zealand and Australia have always met in day games. "In contrast, India are to play in day-night encounters only.

"Moreover, whenever New Zealand and Australia met each other, the wicket had a tinge of grass with the ball always doing something in the morning. But that's not the case when India takes the field," he said.

Fleming had earlier criticised the tournament organisers for making New Zealand and Australia play all the day matches, saying the morning starts had ruined his team's prospects in the triseries.

The Indian Board had then shot back saying the scheduling was done in consultation with New Zealand Cricket and Fleming should take up the matter with his country's board if he had grievances on the issue.