Ponting and Strauss clash over sledging

Ricky Ponting and Andrew Strauss exchanged terse words at the close of the first day’s play at Adelaide, as James Anderson was drawn into the centre of a row over sledging during the final stages of Australia’s first-innings collapse.

Ponting, who is protective of his team-mates and never shy of engaging in some verbals, was seen marching over to Strauss alongside Brad Haddin as the teams left the field after England had faced one over of their first innings before stumps.

The row appeared to centre on an incident during the latter stages of Australia’s innings, during Haddin’s ninth-wicket partnership with Peter Siddle, when Anderson was seen talking to the batsmen and, in the words of one Australian newspaper, “invading their personal space”.

Ponting was understood to be complaining about Strauss's lack of on-field management of a bowler whose shy off-field persona belies the fiery character that he has become. When asked about the incident after stumps, Anderson said knowingly: "I'll go back and ask and tell you later."