Brisbane, Nov. 24 : Test cricketer Andrew Symonds has played down reports of an altercation at a Brisbane hotel last night, saying he did nothing to provoke the incident.

In a statement issued late today, Symonds said a member of the public had "acted unreasonably towards him" as he was drinking at Red Hill''s Normandy Hotel.

Cricket Australia is believed to be investigating the incident.

Symonds was reportedly drinking with Australian rugby league team members at the time, about 12 hours after the Australian cricket team sealed a victory over New Zealand in the first Test at the Gabba.

Dubai, Nov. 24 : Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has moved up 18 places in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after a man-of-the-match performance in the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.

The 27-year-old left-armer registered match figures of 9-69 in 25.3 overs – the best figures of his career to date – as Australia beat its trans-Tasman rival by 149 runs at the ’Gabba.

That effort means Johnson moves up to 12th position as he enjoys his highest rating yet, level with New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori.

Dubai/Brisbane, Nov. 24: The Australia team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 149-run victory against New Zealand in the first Test played between November 20 and 23.

An ICC press release said that Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Ricky Ponting’s side was ruled to be three overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

Brisbane, Nov. 24: The international career of Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds is once again hanging in the balance after the all-rounder was allegedly involved in a physical altercation at a Brisbane pub.

Cricket Australia is investigating the alleged incident involving Symonds, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Symonds was understood to have been drinking at the popular Normanby Hotel in Red Hill with several members of the Australian rugby league team when the fight commenced.

Sydney, Nov 24: Aussie cricket captain Ricky Ponting has put his weight behind his opener Mathew Hayden, saying that he was still left with much cricket in him, and that he was a dedicated batsman and who worked hard to get his batting flaws right.

The second Test against the Kiwis starting Friday at Adelaide would be 100th for 37-year-old Hayden.

“I know Matty’s game as well as anybody … I haven’t seen anything to say he is not as good as he has ever been. It was only a couple of Test matches ago that he made a terrific 80-odd in Delhi.”

London, Nov 24: After England lost the 7-match ODI series against India 0-4 last night, English media offered kudos to Team India, saying that the hosts are playing one-day cricket on “a different level” to England, whatever the length of the game. Yesterday’s game was reduced to 22-overs a side after rain halted the match twice.