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PERTH - Relations between the two Chappell-Hadlee Trophy cricket captains plummeted last night as Ricky Ponting fumed at Daniel Vettori's inference that Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin cheated.
Haddin's actions dominated post-match discussion after New Zealand's thrilling two-wicket win off the final ball, as he potentially joined Greg Chappell and Greg Dyer as transtasman cricketing villains.
Replays of New Zealand batsman Neil Broom's dismissal for 29, bowled by spinner Michael Clarke, showed Haddin's gloves dislodging the bails and the ball missing the top of the stumps.
Broom looked baffled but didn't linger at the crease and umpires Bruce Oxenham (Australia) at square leg and Steve Bucknor (West Indies) at the bowler's end had no issues, while Haddin didn't attempt to recall Broom.
The dismissal came at a crucial time and could have cost New Zealand victory, with Broom and topscorer Ross Taylor adding 42 for the fifth wicket and looking comfortable.
Vettori, who hit the winning runs, was in little doubt as to Haddin's actions.
"I think you saw from Haddin's reaction that he knew something was wrong so he probably should have made more noise about it," Vettori said.
"It is (disappointing) because I thought that was the partnership that was going to win the game, so it put us under a bit more pressure. We've just got to make sure it doesn't happen again."
A bristling Ponting said he hadn't seen a replay of the dismissal, but would confront Vettori about his comments.
"I think he'd better make sure he's 100 per cent right before he comes out and makes those sort of statements. It's a bit much, he's basically claiming (Haddin's) a cheat, isn't he? That's a bit strong unless they're 100 per cent certain," Ponting said.
"We'll wait and see. If (a replay) does show anything that Brad is in the clear, I'll certainly be letting Daniel know about it.
"It's probably worth Haddin having a chat to him as well. He's basically had a bit of a crack at Haddin's makeup."
Ponting said Haddin was adamant the dismissal was legitimate, and gave his gloveman's honesty a stamp of approval.
"Out on the field (Haddin) said he was certain the ball had flicked the top of the off stump. The umpire gave it out and the batsman walked off, and the next I heard of it was when I was asked about it at the end of play.
"(Haddin) obviously didn't know, because if he knew then he wouldn't have claimed it. Whatever we're saying about Brad Haddin here, you can't say that knowingly happened, that is for sure."
The incident will add another chapter to the stormy transtasman cricketing rivalry, most notable for Chappell ordering his brother Trevor to bowl underarm in 1981, and wicketkeeper Dyer claiming a catch off batsman Andrew Jones in 1987 when replays showed the ball clearly rolled from his grasp.
- NZPA
