It’s good to know the Ricky Ponting right hook is alive and well.

That was confirmed over the weekend when he said he might well have administered one to Akash Deep back in the day, had the India quick given him the same sarcastic send-off he issued to England’s Ben Duckett.

Akash Deep put his arm around Ben Duckett after dismissing the England batter.Credit: Getty Images

Yes, we are still drinking in the drama of a Test series happening 17,000 kilometres away that does not involve Australia. We are now one week post-handshakegate and have endured several days of spirit-of-cricket discourse.

The scene at The Oval goes like this: Duckett clocks a bold 43 runs off 38 balls, including four boundaries and a six against Deep, along with a “you can’t get me out” sledge.

Deep proves he can get Duckett out by getting him out (for the fourth time this series). And then, as the latter departs, he throws an arm around his shoulder in a manner that would, in many settings, occasion imminent violence.

Duckett, despite holding an actual bat, handles the unsolicited sympathy with irritated composure until KL Rahul intervenes to pull his teammate off.

During the lunch break broadcast, Sky Sports presenter Ian Ward is speaking about the incident to Ponting. “I can think of a few batsmen down the years that would take umbrage at this, and I’m looking very much in your direction,” Ward says. “That would have been a Ponting right hook, wouldn’t it?”

Ponting responds: “Probably yeah, probably.”

In the very next breath, Ponting praises Duckett for not doing what he would have done, saying “I think I like him more now for not reacting to that”.

These two statements, side-by-side, seem like a contradiction, especially from the mouth of a man who is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of cricket etiquette. Ponting is in opposition with........

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