Ponting annoyed at Warne's 'madness'

Shane Warne's use of a banned drug left Ricky Ponting, Australia's one-day captain, annoyed at what he described as Warne's "madness". In his World Cup diary, which is published this week, Ponting said that his sympathy for Warne was tinged with "a feeling of annoyance".

Ponting said the Australians have a lecture on drugs every year, and as a result he was aware of the issues and checked any drugs before he took them. "That is common sense, and for Warney, who has been playing international cricket for over a decade, to ignore that approach is just madness."

Not surprisingly, given the campaign he was about to embark on in defence of the World Cup, Ponting said he was upset that the controversy came up when it did in South Africa.

"I think there was plenty of shock in the room already," he wrote. "But to then see the greatest bowler in Australian cricket so distressed in front of us all was as sobering a sight as you could ever wish to see.

"The room was reduced to complete silence, an awkward silence, as Warney tried to regain his composure and finish what he was saying."

Ponting said Warne was more composed when he addressed his teammates again later that night, telling them: "You are a better team than just one person, and even though I am going to go home, you can and will win the World Cup without me." Ponting wrote: "Whatever you might think of Warney, it took a lot of guts and quality for him to stand up, admit what he had done and wave goodbye to his dream of one last crack at the World Cup."

However, Ponting did say that he was looking forward to having Warne back in his armoury when the 12-month suspension for using a banned diuretic ends on February 10. "He's a great player and I really hope I get to play some more cricket with him."