Stephen Fleming comments on issue

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said all-round condemnation of Ricky Ponting's team has surprised him as the world champions were their usual aggressive self in the controversial Sydney Test."The intensity of the debate, and the situation where the Australians are being criticised by their own, is probably the greatest surprise," Fleming was quoted as saying by NZPA.They play hard over there -- they do create pressure on the umpires by playing hard, constant cricket,Ponting has come in for scathing criticism for his team's abrasive behaviour during their record-equalling 16th straight Test win in Sydney after a string of umpiring howlers robbedIndia of a chance to draw the game.The Australian skipper's racial abuse complaint against Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh added fuel to the fire and Fleming said the matter, which looked a bit "schoolboyish" initially, became a mess because of lack of independent evidence."The Harbhajan aspect is interesting. It sounds like there is a case there to be answered, it's the player's word against another - without the match officials it's very messy,"It does look a little bit schoolboyish, though the racial issue does cause concern for a lot of players. There's been a big push to stamp it out,"Fleming said the Australians are known to play hard and put pressure on umpires with aggressive appealing and it was important to retain some of that fire in the game or else it would become dull.