RICKY PONTING'S team has an image problem, and yesterday the game's highest official urged Cricket Australia to do something about it.
Malcolm Speed has been working around the clock to bring some calm to the volatile series between Australia and India and to ensure that it goes ahead. Controversially, but in the interests of the game, he acceded to India's requests to have umpire Steve Bucknor stood down from the third Test and called in a referee to stand between Bollyline skippers Ponting and Anil Kumble.
Yesterday, though, the International Cricket Council chief executive touched on a problem almost as difficult to solve, since the Australians cannot understand why they are so unloved as it was an Indian player accused and found guilty of racism.
