Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has suggested that Ollie Robinson needs to back his words up with skill after the England seamer referenced Ponting's sledging as a player to justify his send-off to Usman Khawaja during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
On the third morning of the Test, Robinson removed Khawaja for 141, knocking back his off stump as Khawaja came down the pitch while looking to force the ball through the off side. Robinson celebrated by shouting towards Khawaja, and appeared to tell him to, "F*** off, you f***ing prick".
Ponting had remained tightlipped on the subject on commentary for Sky Sports for the remainder of the Test, but delivered some stern words to Robinson on ICC Review Podcast on Wednesday.
"As I said after Ollie Robinson said what he said, this England cricket team hasn't played against Australia, and they'll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about," Ponting said. "And if Robinson hasn't learned that already after last week, then he's a slow learner."
The 29-year-old pace bowler was questioned about it in a tense press conference after the third day's play, and said he "doesn't care" how Australia might receive his actions, and that he is "here to provide… that theatre of the game".
Robinson had even referenced Ponting during the same interaction, going to justify his actions citing the example of the former Australia captain.
"We've all seen Ricky Ponting, [and] other Aussies do the same to us," Robinson said. "Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it's not received well."
But Ponting shot back at Robinson, saying the latter would "learn pretty quickly" what it means to prick the Australians in an Ashes series.
"Some of the things he had to say - I mean he even brought my name into it, which I felt was a little bit unusual," Ponting said. "But for me, it's water off a duck's back. If he is sitting back thinking about me, then no wonder he bowled like the way that he did in that game, if he's worried about what I did 15 years ago.