Had an interesting chat with Ponting over phone: Ravichandran Ashwin

DUBAI: Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has spoken to his Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting on the issue of running out batsmen who back up too far at the non-striker's end.

Ponting is not in favour of 'Mankading' and had said that he will have a chat with Ashwin when he plays for the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting September 19 in the UAE.

"Ricky Ponting hasn't yet reached (Dubai). After he comes, we will sit for a chat with him. He said he wants to have a conversation. We have already talked over the phone. It was a very interesting chat," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"What happens sometimes is Australians' messages in English get lost in translation and reach us with a different meaning. Even some of their jokes become news. That's what it is and next week I will reveal a bit more about my conversation with Ricky."

England batsman Buttler was 'Mankaded' by Ashwin at a crucial moment in last year's IPL season during a match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals. The manner of the dismissal had created ripples across the cricketing fraternity and beyond, with many former greats of the game lambasting the Indian off-spinner for breaching the 'spirit of the game'.

Ashwin on Monday even suggested the introduction of a "free ball" for bowlers if non-strikers back up too far, sticking to his stand that there was nothing wrong with running such batsmen out.

"Make it a free ball for the bowler. If the batsmen gets out of that ball, the batting team will be docked 5 runs. Free hit adds to the drama for a batter, let's give a chance to the bowlers too," Ashwin had tweeted. IANS

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