Ponting: No disharmony in the Australian team

Ricky Ponting has angrily refuted “completely made up” reports of disharmony in the Australian cricket team as the crunch Ashes series looms.

Amid a troubling seven-game losing streak, the Australians have also had to fend off reports of in-fighting and a split over Michael Clarke’s standing as Ponting’s successor-in-waiting.

Ponting missed Wednesday’s loss to Sri Lanka in game one of their three-game series in Melbourne to attend a funeral before returning for Friday night’s defeat in game two in Sydney.

But the Australian captain closely monitored the situation during his absence and swiftly rebuked stories of a rift just ahead of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on November 25.

“There’s been a bit written hasn’t there,” he said.

“I had a really close read of one of the articles that was written about it and some of the instances that were referred to in there were, as far as I’m concerned, just completely made up.

“I’m not sure why they were written the way they were, but me being captain of the side, it’s one of my jobs to make sure little things like that are handled in the right way.

“If there’s any disharmony it’s up to me to make sure I’m getting on top of it.

“Some of those things reported were a long, long way from the mark.”

Some senior members of the side were reportedly unwilling to back Clarke as Ponting’s natural successor in Test cricket.

It supposedly stemmed from comments Clarke made about Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger’s involvement in the Champions League prior to the recent first Test against India.

Hussey denied that was the case earlier this week, while Shane Watson also dismissed the reports in Brisbane on Saturday ahead of game three against Sri Lanka.

“It’s amazing that as soon as we don’t win the games we want to that that’s one of the first things that starts flying around from everyone away from the group,” Watson said.

“It’s unfortunate that these things are being said because there’s no doubt that everyone is going in the same direction.

“(Clarke’s) been under the guidance of two of the greats in Australian cricket with Ricky Ponting with his captaincy and leadership but also Warney (Shane Warne) and how amazing he was tactically as well.”

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