Australia win over Pakistan in Sydney not a fix, says Ricky Ponting

Australia's cricketers remain convinced their Test victory over Pakistan in Sydney this year was achieved fairly after the contest has once again become the subject of match-fixing allegations. Police in London arrested a man on Saturday over allegations of spot fixing in the fourth Test against England at Lord's following claims in the News of the World. The man was released without charge on police bail this morning. The man told the newspaper the Sydney Test in January, which Australia won by 36 runs after overcoming a 206-run first innings deficit before dismissing Pakistan for 139 in their run chase, had been fixed. • Pakistan sends delegation to investigate claims • ICC promises 'ruthless action' against any guilty player • Richard Williams: A sad tale with a long history • Editorial: A sport that needs fixing The match was investigated by the ICC's anti-corruption unit, while the Pakistan tour of Australia, in which the tourists lost all of their matches, was the subject of an inquiry by the Pakistani board. "As a cricketer everything I have seen so far has been quite shocking to tell the truth," Australia's captain, Ricky Ponting said."The way we won [in Sydney] was one of the more satisfying moments that I've had on the cricket field. And now when some of these things come to light is when you start to slightly doubt some of the things that have happened. "We all felt that we'd done everything in our power after a shaky start on day one. It wasn't until ... maybe even a couple of months after that game was over that it [match-fixing speculation] all sort of started." Mike Hussey, whose 134 not out in the second innings and 123-run ninth wicket stand with Peter Siddle helped set up the win, and the off-spinner Nathan Hauritz told local media they felt the victory was achieved fairly. Cricket Australia said it was shocked by the revelations but had no doubt the team had won the match on their merits. "The reports from the UK are most disturbing and we look forward to the outcome of rigorous investigation by the UK authorities as well as by the ICC," CA's chief executive James Sutherland said this morning. "We have no knowledge of the current allegations but by their very nature, they demonstrate the absolute importance of world cricket maintaining its vigilance in relation to anti-corruption." The former ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed believes there is a serious case for Pakistan to be banned from world cricket. Speed, who was in charge of world cricket's governing body for seven years, said there was provision in the ICC's anti-corruption code to suspend a whole nation and if these allegations were proven and corruption was found to be endemic, then the ICC had little choice. "I think that [suspension] is an option. It's serious," Speed told ABC Radio. "It looks as though it is endemic that several of the team members are involved and have been for some time. So perhaps they need a rest. It looks a fairly compelling case." The Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive, Angus Porter, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "If it is proved that the allegations are correct and that allows the authorities to take significant action then it is a good thing. It could be a watershed moment for cricket. "They [the anti-corruption unit] have pursued a number of investigations but up until now they have found it very hard to assemble the concrete evidence to take it to a prosecution – in the past, when a case has been proven, it's normally been because somebody has confessed." Porter declined to comment on potential punishments should players be found guilty of fixing, saying: "Proof of guilt and sentencing may be separate issues. "I would never condone what the players did but we must examine all the circumstances including the social conditions surrounding it. With an 18-year-old in a dressing room, the cultural norm may be to do as he is told."