By Greg Robertson
Australia and New Zealand put their sporting rivalries aside today – if but for a minute.
Both sides wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence in respect for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake before play began at the VCA Ground in Nagpur.
Ponting said today that the famously competitive Australians spoke with the Black Caps at the hotel the teams are sharing in Nagpur.
Before the match, Ponting said, "We need to show whatever respect we can and do whatever we can to help people who have been affected by it all," Ponting said. "We will wear black armbands, I'll speak to (New Zealand captain) Dan Vettori at the toss, and we'll have a minute's silence.
“A lot of that stuff is really small little areas where we can help out as two national cricket teams. As we know, we are neighbours and we treat each other as brothers."
New Zealand's players have spent the past three days checking on family and friends, while their physiotherapist and trainer have headed home.
"We've all been, as an Australian team, extremely saddened by what we've seen happen in Christchurch in the last few days," Ponting said. "We've actually had a chance to speak now to most of the New Zealand players as well, having shared the hotel with them last night and this morning.
"I've got a couple of guys who I am quite close to in that New Zealand side and they tell me their immediate families and friends are all safe although I understand there are some that aren't.”
3 News
source: newshub archive
