Ponting, Joyce defend Australia over Vincent comments

SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) Australia captain Ricky Ponting has defended his team following New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent's description of them behaving like ''a pack of dogs''.

Vincent said earlier in the week Australia resorted to intimidation tactics and over-the-top sledging instead of behaving like true champions.

''This has been running for a couple days already, this Lou Vincent stuff, so I don't want to add much more to it,'' Ponting told reporters today.

''But at the end of the day, it probably says a little bit about him as an individual.'' Ponting accepted his players did try to intimidate their opponents but rejected the claim their sledging was beyond the limits of fair play.

''We try to create an uncomfortable environment on-field for the opposition,'' he said. ''That's probably the best way to put it. We like to put opposition teams under pressure.

''It creates doubt. We pride ourselves in the way we go about our fielding and the intensity of our fielding.'' Ponting does not think his team are guilty of overdoing the sledging.

''I think everything that was done has been played within the spirit of the game,'' he said. ''We have just been able to impose ourselves with good, solid, hard cricket on other teams.'' Ponting added that the remarks would probably spice up the Tri-Series match against New Zealand in Melbourne on Sunday.

Australia also found an unlikely ally in the form of England batsman Ed Joyce.

''They do have a bit of a swagger but I think they deserve to have that swagger at the moment,'' Joyce said.

''They are obviously the best team in the world, they are playing brilliant cricket and they haven't lost for a long time.

''I personally haven't had any problem with them. I don't think any of our team have either.'' Australia seek their fourth successive win over England in the Tri-Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

REUTERS SAM HS1451