02 February 2004	Monday	10 Zilhaj 1424

SYDNEY, Feb 1: Australian captain Ricky Ponting has reprimanded batsman Damien Martyn for making a finger gesture to a filming media cameraman outside the team's Melbourne hotel last Friday.

The under-performing batsman also apologised for his action, which he agreed was foolish.

Martyn was filmed with a raised middle finger towards a cameraman. "I am sorry for the offence caused by the gesture and apologise to the public who have seen it on TV," Martyn said in a statement released by Cricket Australia on Sunday.

"My action was in no way pre-meditated, nor did I did I mean for it to cause any harm." Ponting said Martyn's action was "inappropriate".

"I acknowledge he didn't mean to cause offence but his action was inappropriate and not fitting of an Australian player and ambassador for the game," Ponting said in the statement.

The action was taken under the players' Spirit of Cricket code and was also supported by vice-captain Adam Gilchrist.

Cricket Australia general manager cricket operations Michael Brown, who viewed the incident on Saturday, said he was satisfied the issue had been handled at the appropriate level within the team, and said no further action would be taken by Cricket Australia. -AFP