Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has suggested that Ollie Robinson needs to back his words up with skill after the England seamer referenced Ponting's sledging as a player to justify his send-off to Usman Khawaja during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
On the third morning of the Test, Robinson removed Khawaja for 141, knocking back his off stump as Khawaja came down the pitch while looking to force the ball through the off side. Robinson celebrated by shouting towards Khawaja, and appeared to tell him to, "F*** off, you f***ing prick".
Ponting had remained tightlipped on the subject on commentary for Sky Sports for the remainder of the Test, but delivered some stern words to Robinson on ICC Review Podcast on Wednesday.
"As I said after Ollie Robinson said what he said, this England cricket team hasn't played against Australia, and they'll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about," Ponting said. "And if Robinson hasn't learned that already after last week, then he's a slow learner."
The 29-year-old pace bowler was questioned about it in a tense press conference after the third day's play, and said he "doesn't care" how Australia might receive his actions, and that he is "here to provide… that theatre of the game".
Robinson had even referenced Ponting during the same interaction, going to justify his actions citing the example of the former Australia captain.
"We've all seen Ricky Ponting, [and] other Aussies do the same to us," Robinson said. "Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it's not received well."
But Ponting shot back at Robinson, saying the latter would "learn pretty quickly" what it means to prick the Australians in an Ashes series.
"Some of the things he had to say - I mean he even brought my name into it, which I felt was a little bit unusual," Ponting said. "But for me, it's water off a duck's back. If he is sitting back thinking about me, then no wonder he bowled like the way that he did in that game, if he's worried about what I did 15 years ago.
"He'll learn pretty quickly that if you're going to talk to Australian cricketers in an Ashes series, then you want to be able to back it up with your skills."
However, Khawaja was unperturbed by what was apparently said to him by Robinson, claiming that he did not hear the bowler's send-off in the moment. The pair had a quiet exchange on the final day while Khawaja was batting, but the Australia opener said there was nothing in it.
"The other day, the crowd was so loud I had no idea," Khawaja said. "I got out and all I could hear was the Barmy Army. I didn't actually hear anything. Today there was nothing much in it. Just a bit of friendly banter."
Meanwhile, Ponting also questioned whether England were being honest with their mantra that results don't matter, given Ben Stokes' post-match quotes about how devastated they were to lose at Edgbaston.
"I've heard them say that before, that they're not 'results driven', but I don't believe that for a second," Ponting said. "This is an Ashes series; this is the biggest challenge that Ben Stokes has had in his career as a captain.
"I'm not copping that. I mean, if they're not results driven, they wouldn't be disappointed at all about losing. And it seemed to me last night; and he said it, that all his players were in pieces at the end of that game. So that means to me that they do care about losing, and you should.
"Winning Test matches is not an easy thing to do, and winning an Ashes Test is not easy. You don't want to be giving good cricket teams opportunities back into a game of Ashes cricket when you're in control of the game. England were in control of the game late on day one. So England presented Australia with an opportunity, and Australia made the most of it."