Ponting backs 'suspended' Warner to emerge 'a better man' from Root-punching fiasco

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that he expected suspended opener David Warner to become a better person after his exile from the Australian team.

The troubled batsman was axed from the side after a nightclub altercation with English player Joe Root, Telegraph.com.au reports.

Stating that a chance meeting with Warner gave him an opportunity to chat with him, Ponting said that Warner is happy that he has managed to leave the entire incident behind him, adding that he wants to move on and start afresh.

According to Ponting, he could make out from his conversation that Warner had learnt some lessons as a result of it all, and made it clear that he is very remorseful for what happened and the way that it happened, adding that he is sure that Warner can emerge a better person from the ashes of the incident.

Stating that his own indiscretion in 1999, when he was punched at Kings Cross nightclub, became a major turning point in his life and changed him for the better, Ponting said by finding ways of becoming a better person, he managed to forge ahead and gave himself the best chance to become a better player than before.

Meanwhile, the former skipper said that he believed that the Ashes series will be more of a contest than the pundits predict, adding that it will take some time for the Australian team to adapt and take up leadership roles given that the team is rapidly losing its experienced players.