Ricky Ponting has a right to ensure umpires make the correct decision, but he needs to learn a more polite way of making his point.
That's the opinion of cricketing greats who yesterday sprang to Ponting's defence after the Australia captain was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for dissent in the second Test against Bangladesh.
Although not condoning Ponting's animated approach for umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Howell to reverse an incorrect third umpire verdict, former Test stars thought the Australia captain had "been hard done by".
Former England captain and Channel 9 commentator Tony Greig sympathised with Ponting's frustrations.
"I'm not questioning that (Ponting) deserved (to be fined)," Greig said.
"But my first thought was about the frustrations that are being caused by umpires.
"When they make mistakes that are exposed by technology, I really think there's a serious case for the match referee to reverse something that's clearly wrong.
"The captain is the only guy allowed to go up and ask questions, and they are getting frustrated, especially on the back of a tough tour of South Africa and a long year."
Former Australia fast bowler Geoff Lawson went further, labelling Ponting "unlucky".
"I think the captain is entitled to ask the question," he said.
"The replays clearly showed the guy was out. Maybe Ponting has overstepped the mark in the past, but not on this one.
"At the end of the day we got the right decision and Ponting has been reported and fined. It seems harsh."
Ponting was found guilty of dissent and fined about $4300 after Bangladesh team officials lodged a formal complaint about his behaviour.
Bangladesh's qualms arose after the video umpire ruled the home side's Aftab Ahmed not out, despite replays clearly showing the ball bounced off his boot and into the waiting gloves of Adam Gilchrist.
Adding further weight to suggestions Ponting was unlucky, match referee Jeff Crowe initially stated the Australian captain had no case to answer because there was no evidence Ponting verbally requested a reversal.
But the Kiwi official backflipped after presiding over a disciplinary hearing on Monday.
"Although I have sympathy for Ricky, I cannot accept his move towards the on-field umpires as they made a move towards resuming play," Crowe said.
"That is a breach of the (International Cricket Council's) Test match playing conditions, which state that players may not appeal to the umpire to use the replay system."
Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh was left "as confused as anybody".
But Waugh said on Fox Sports that his former teammate's "actions were a bit aggressive".
"You are not allowed to show dissent towards the umpires," Waugh said.
"Ricky probably did jump a little bit overboard. Just looking at his actions they were probably too aggressive.
"Ricky was justified in complaining about the decision. It's a bit of a stuff up all around and we will learn from this."
Ponting's fine continues a worriesome trend of misconduct from the world champions.
In January, vice-captain Gilchrist was fined after questioning Dar on his decision not to consult the video when replays showed South Africa batsman Boetta Dippenaar to be short of his ground.
Gilchrist's fourth offence came just a week after pace duo Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were respectively charged with abusive language and dissent.
Lawson and Greig were loath to place Ponting's indiscretion in that league.