Whinging Ponting blames Bowden

Ricky Ponting has blamed New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden for his side’s Ashes series loss.

Writing in his Ashes 2005 diary, the Australian captain was adamant a poor decision cost them the series.

He highlights a leg-before-wicket appeal in the second test at Edgbaston, where England levelled the series 1-1.

Brett Lee trapped Simon Jones in front, yet Bowden adjudged it was missing leg stump.

“It was as plumb as could be, yet Bowden said not out,” Ponting recalled in the Sun-Herald newspaper.

“I was pretty agitated when Bowden said the ball was going down leg.

“My impression was it was going down leg but it swung at the last second,” Ponting said.

England’s last batting pair added just two more runs before the innings ended, ironically the margin of victory for England.