Adelaide, Jan. 26: Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said that he will seek an explanation from all-rounder Andrew Symonds on why he labelled New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum a "lump of shit" in a radio interview late last week.

Describing Symonds as a "vital cog in our side" for all three forms of the game, The Age quoted Ponting as saying: "No one can ever doubt his cricket ability and talents and his match-winning abilities . so, hopefully, everything keeps progressing really well with him, with his fitness, and we can get to the bottom of this issue and move on, and let him worry about his cricket."

"I''d actually like to have a conversation with him about the whole situation - as part of the leadership group of the Australian cricket team it''s certainly my job to do that. Once I''ve heard it and had a chance to speak to Andrew I''ll actually have a more clearer picture of what''s actually happened," Ponting added.

On his part, Symonds has apologized publicly for what he called his light-hearted comments against McCullum, and that what he said should in no way reflect "the respect that I have for McCullum both on and off the field."

The controversial Queensland all-rounder''s outburst was prompted by New South Wale''s recruitment of McCullum for its Twenty20 final at the weekend, believing it was an "injustice" that a NSW player had to make way for the New Zealander.

"We love to hate them, but he (McCullum) is a lump of shit, sorry, lump of cow dirt that people are thinking of," Symonds said in an interview with Roy Slaven and H. G. Nelson on Triple M.

Symonds has previously been disciplined by Australian team management for alcohol-related incidents, late last year conceding he previously had been "drinking too much, and I wasn''t a good bloke to be around".

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said he was not in a position to comment about Symonds.

"All I do know is that Andrew Symonds is a fantastic cricketer . and I think Australia need him hugely in that middle order because he gives them so much impetus. I hope everything goes well for him and he sorts himself out," Arthur said.

McCullum said yesterday he has no hard feelings towards Symonds. "Was it a piece of shit? Mate, people are entitled to their opinion and I certainly wasn''t offended by it at all," he said.

"There''s nothing you can do about it. I was over here to enjoy the occasion and certainly did that and it was just a great game to be a part of," he added. (ANI)