Monkeygate was lowest point of my captaincy: former Oz skipper Ricky Ponting

Australia's two-time world Cup-winning former skipper Ricky Ponting considers 2008 'Monkeygate' scandal lowest point of his captaincy stint as he feels he was t in control of what was happened at that time. scandal unfolded when senior Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was charged with racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during second Test at Sydney. "Monkeygate was probably lowest (point in career as captain). Losing 2005 Ashes series was tough but I was in full control of that. But I wasn't in full control of what happened during Monkeygate thing," Ponting, who led Australia to 48 wins from 77 Tests and 164 triumphs in 228 ODIs, told a 'Skysports' podcast.

Monkeygate was lowest point 

Harbhajan was eventually cleared of charge and Symonds' career went into a downward spiral after incident. "It was a low point and also because it dragged on for so long. I remember coming off ground during elaide Test match and speaking to Cricket Australia officials about case because hearing was at end of elaide Test match," Ponting ded. incident created a lot of bitterness between two teams with India threatening to pull out of tour before ICC intervened.

"We all felt let down by end result (of Monkeygate controversy). fact that it got in way of way we played our cricket for next Test match was probably most disappointing thing," said Australia batting great.

"So we go over re and India at Perth is game we expect to win and n we lost match and after that next few days things just got worse and worse," he went on to d. 

Under Ponting's captaincy, Australia also suffered Ashes defeats in 2005, 2009 and 2010-11. " first two probably hurt more because we were expected to win more, certainly in 2005," he said. "Everyone in 2005 expected us to just come over here, whitewash m [England] again and come back with Ashes. That didn't happen that way. "Certainly, for me, 2005 defeat was hardest to cope with. But 2010-11, we were just completely outplayed."