Holding slams Ponting over revelations about Michael Clarke

West Indies great Michael Holding has criticised Australian captain Ricky Ponting for revelations in his autobiography that prompted a public spat with current skipper Michael Clarke.

According to the Dawn, Holding, now a prominent cricket commentator, said it was unfortunate that Ponting had broken the traditional dressing room code of silence in the book, which was released last month.

The former paceman said it was acceptable for ex-players to reveal a few little titbits in their memoirs but they should not air dirty laundry in public, according to the report.

Holding said publishers encouraged controversy in books because it boosted sales but players needed to be careful about what they revealed, the report mentioned.

Ponting's book raised concerns about Clarke's attitude when he was deputy captain and offered an unfavourable appraisal of his ill-fated relationship with bikini model Lara Bingle, the report said.

It has been criticised by another former Australian captain Mark Taylor and by spin great Shane Warne, who suggested Ponting was jealous of Clarke, the report added.