Cricket is bigger than us: Ponting

India set the tone for reconciliation by withdrawing charges against Hogg, and it is widely expected Aussies will reciprocate.

The Indian team had set the tone for reconciliation and peace by withdrawing the charges against Brad Hogg, and it was widely expected that Australia would reciprocate. But Ricky Ponting, asked on the issue, remained non-committal but indicated that the Australian board may take a step towards resolving this issue.

“The Hogg issue was withdrawn only last night (Monday), we have a pretty important and pretty big Test match to play in a few hours time. There would be some time probably for the hierarchy, to sit back and discuss anything that might haven’t been done so far,” he said.

The Harbhajan hearing case will now be held on January 29 and 30 in Adelaide, after the fourth and final Test ends. The two-day hearing by the appeals commissioner Justice John Hamsen will see a tight defence by the Indian team management with Arun Jaitley and Shashank Manohar flying in, along with five other board officials, to aid Harbhajan Singh.

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“Anil and I had some individual meetings with Ranjan Madugalle yesterday (Monday), going over similar sort of issues, discussions about our responsibilities as captains and leaders, the team’s responsibility to the game. One thing that has come out is that we are ready to leave everything that happened last week behind us. By withdrawing their charge against Hogg last evening they have shown that they are ready to move on and get on with the game as well. We have realised that the game of cricket is bigger than just us.”

Ponting admitted that the fielder-takes-call clause has been scrapped.

“It’s been scrapped, as of yesterday. We wanted to continue the way it was. But the feeling through the Indian team, not necessarily Anil, was that they would like it to go back into the hands of the umpire. It’s gone back to umpires on the field and it’s up to them to make the call.

If they feel like, they could refer it (to the third umpire). That’s the way it’s going to be for the remainder of the series.”