Ricky Ponting caught up in fake tweet storm amid ugly World Cup aftermath

Ricky Ponting is the latest Aussie to be targeted online in the wake of Australia’s World Cup victory over India, with a fake tweet resulting in social media furore. Multiple disgruntled Indian fans have hurled abuse the way of Aussie players, their partners and journalists after the World Cup final.

In the latest addition to the ugly aftermath, a tweet by a verified user with more than 2,800 followers started doing the rounds. It read: "Ricky Ponting on Fox Cricket: 'This is a win of justice against cricket mafia. Your money and power is still not winning World Cups for you. How embarrassing.' Ponting owned India and BCCI."

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The tweet, which has been viewed more than 1.1 million times, has been declared fake by Ricky Ponting's team but it hasn't stopped the abuse. While Ponting did not take kindly to the fact the World Cup final pitch was manipulated to suit the Indian spin bowling attack, he did not make the sweeping remarks the tweet claimed.

The wicket was a major talking point leading up to the final with the Australian side concerned about how the pitch was prepared. Following Australia's emphatic victory, Ponting noted how the Indians prepared the wicket backfired on them.

“It was very, very sub-continental conditions today,” the former Test captain said. A wicket preparation that has probably ended up backfiring on India to be totally fair.”

Australian side targeted online after dramatic World Cup win

Following the World Cup triumph, wives of Aussie cricketers have spoken out about the vile abuse they have received. Glenn Maxwell’s wife Vini Raman, of Indian descent, posted a message to social media exposing some of the shameful aftermath.

“Aaaaand cue all the hateful vile DMs. Stay classy …” she wrote on Instagram. “Can’t believe this needs to be said BUT you can be Indian and also support the country of your birth where you have been raised and more importantly the team your husband and father of your child plays in. Take a chill pill and direct that outrage towards more important world issues.”

Travis Head's wife Jessica also was subject to abusive comments on social media. Jessica was spotted celebrating with her husband on Sunday night after his masterful knock of 137 in the final. However, some social media users hurled abuse at the Aussie WAG, leaving threats of rape and assault in her social media comments section.

ESPN Australia contributor Steve Smith was also targeted by social media trolls, sharing messages from fans that read, "I hope plane crashes, all of your team die along with their family members", and "If I ever see you somewhere, you’re not walking out from there".

Indian cricket great's ironic World Cup excuses

Former Indian Test batter Sanjay Manjrekar has only fueled the flame after failing to take India's defeat to Australia with grace, claiming the side was beaten by the conditions and refused to admit Australia was the better team on the day. To top it off the Manjrekar blamed the pitch that was prepared to suit the Indian side for why they lost.

“The pitch was tacky, a bit rough on the top and likely to turn from ball one, so Australia wasn’t really taking a huge risk by going against the cliché of putting runs on the board in the big game,” he wrote for The Hindustan Times. “They knew their pacers would get some lateral movement in the afternoon, plus the sandpaper-like top meant that reverse swing could come into play with Mitchell Starc as one of the best exponents of it in the world in their side; also, the slower balls were going to be a great option to go to if nothing else worked.

“It’s not like it’s difficult bowling first, that you’ll get nothing from that afternoon pitch - you get plenty. We’ve seen that the ball hasn’t come onto the bat in the afternoon,” Manjrekar said. "If dew comes in later, batting was bound to get easier, the ball wasn’t going to turn as much, plus the slower ball as a lifesaver for the seamer when nothing works was not going to be an option. It was actually a ‘win-win’ scenario for the team bowling first. After that it was all about execution. To put it simply, the 10/10 India was beaten by the conditions first."

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