Australian supports Australian captain

The Australian, which has the country's captain as a high-paid columnist, comes out to back Ricky Ponting, saying he should be praised for exposing racism. Malcolm Conn writes Ponting deserves to be feted, not condemned, for taking his bold stand to protect Andrew Symonds.

In the same paper Peter Lalor wonders how different things would have been if India held on for a draw at the SCG.

Michael Epis, writing in the Age, tells why he doesn’t like the Australian team.

In the Courier-Mail Robert Craddock congratulates the ICC for its removal of Steve Bucknor for Perth. “Making the call to drop Bucknor in the middle of a series may seem cringingly bad timing but sometimes desperate situations call for unconventional methods.”