Spats look uglier on TV than on the field: Ricky Ponting

Sydney: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting opines that the on-field spats look "uglier" on TV than they actually are and the fine imposed on David Warner after his altercation with India's Rohit Sharma was more a result of camera footage than the "real picture".

Warner, whose on-field behaviour has been under the scanner of late, was docked 50 per cent of his match fee after his 'speak english' jibe at Rohit during Australia's win at the MCG. Ponting said that the actions appeared more dramatic on television.

"When David Warner confronted Rohit Sharma between overs at the MCG, it reminded me of a few episodes I found myself involved in on the field. However it started or whatever was said, it did not look great, and as I came to understand over the years, the way such exchanges are perceived from off the field often turns out to be more important than the actual topic discussed or words used," Ponting wrote in his column on 'ESPNcricinfo'.

"That has been true of this episode for David, where his 50 per cent match fee fine has come about largely because of how it played on television and came across to fans around the world," he added.

Warner, who has had a brush with discipline when the destructive opener was accused of punching England batsman Joe Root in a bar brawl back in 2013 and subsequently expelled from the team, turned over a new leaf in the summer of 2014 and has not only tried to change his image but has also become a pillar of strength for Australia. Ponting believes the left-handed batsman should learn from his experience.

"After the few incidents he has been involved in across the summer and in past seasons, he is likely to be looked at more closely by ICC officials. Rather than feeling targeted, he should understand that, learn from it and tweak his on-field manner," he said.

"David is capable of that. I have been so impressed by his growth as a cricketer and as a young man. He won't want things like this to keep setting him back. He will be a bit surprised to have featured prominently in newspaper editorials, but he will learn from the experience for the future," the Australian legend added.