Absurd to think otherwise imo.
Stupid dumb statements like Ponting has been quoted in that article are dime-a-dozen, disputes umpiring decisions, getting drunk and into fights, etc. really do not fit the character of a cricket captain at international levels.
And the issue, as i said before ( in relation to the Aussie team but relevant in Ponting's case too) is not that Aussies have bad on-field incidents and others dont- its that the Aussies have far more bad on-field incidents that the authorities blatantly let slip compared to other teams.
And again, it is not to be excused by #1 ranking- as the examples i've given of various other #1 teams and attitudes towards them demonstrate.
I think this thread has so far seen four kinds of people - the few Aussies who are willing to admit their cricket team or more in general,their sporting culture is out of line; the rest of the Aussies who simply won't accept that there is a problem with their team's attitude, people who call it as they see it (ie, Aussie team really does have an attitude prob) and the people who want to avoid singular criticism of Australian team's attitude simply for the sake of political correctness.
Well, nice to know that you're capable of categorising everyone so well. For the sake of your argument, let's deal with the points you've raised.
Where are the "dime-a-dozen" stupid quotes he makes?
Ponting got into a fight in a pub years before he was made captain. So you're saying that that incident disqualifies him from assuming the captaincy years later? Then Botham should never have captained England given his run-in with Ian Chappell in a pub years before he was captain.
Disputes umpires' decisions. So Viv Richards should never have been made captain because he disputed an umpire's decision in a first class match in Antigua when given out for a duck, causing the crowd to riot and the match to be postponed until he was recalled (incidently, and pretty funnily, he then got another duck and furthermore completed a pair, or a triple, depending on which way you look at it
). He was suspended for about 12 months I think after that incident - should he never have captained the Windies, or do we (rightly, imo) forgive him that transgression? If Ponting or any other captain walks up to an umpire and asks him about a decision, is that dissent, or is he acting as he is entitled to inhis capacity as captain? I don't excuse the Malaysia blow up, which was frankly stupid on his part.
The Aussies have more on-field incidents which the authorities blatantly let slip: evidence please? That's a very broad comment to make and one which requires evidence if it is to be considered accurate. For Gods sake, Anre Nel carries on more in a twenty-twenty match than the entire Aussie team does in a season, and all I ever hear is "he's a character and he's good for the game". Furthermore, though slightly off the topic, if umpires and referees don't police things, that's a reflection on them as officials, not the Australian or any other cricket team for that matter.
Dealing with the categories you mentioned, in particular the first category, being "Those who agree with you". To say that there is a problem with Australian sporting culture in general, let alone with the cricket team is a base allegation. What do you say, that it's too aggressive, too over-the-top? Is that what you mean by "out of line?" That's a gross generalisation, the equivalent of me coming on here and saying that teams from the sub-continent aren't aggressive enough and are therefore soft. You just can't generalise like that. We've had many people say that there is a need for more cross-cultural understanding on the cricket field and sporting fields in general - well, that cuts both ways. Something which you may consider rude or aggressive may not be seen that way in another culture - understanding is a two-way street. The Australian sporting culture which you decry as out of line has produced as many Rafters, Rosewalls, Lavers, Thorpes, Hacketts, Woodfulls, Gilchrists, Freemans, Landys, (Ron) Clarkes and Lionel Roses as it has Hewitts, Mundines, (Merv) Hughes, etc.
As for other number one teams, it doen't matter where they are ranked - there's no excuse if behaviour is bad - Italy are number one in soccer, look at their cynical escapades at the World Cup last year ("diving's part of the game" - largely accepted by the footballing world).
I don't think the Australian team are angels - some of their behaviour isn't good, some of it is worse than not good. Most of it is good, and when it isn't they should be disciplined like everyone else. I don't see how their behaviour is worse than that of most other teams in general. I do, hoever, believe that their indiscretions are scrutinised to a greater extent because of their current ranking in world cricket.
As for Sunny - great player, though anyone who saw his walk off with Chauhan and seeks to apply the same standards as you do to Ponting, may wish to question Gavaskar's legacy to the game.
Edit: I don't consider my self intractable really, though that's a matter for others to decide. I'd just like you apply the same standards to other teams that you do to Australia. But if you wish to categorise the Australian team as ruffians and thugs (goons, in other words), then that's your prerogative.