SATURDAY'S Test hero Gary Pratt was brought back down to earth with a bump yesterday - left out of the Durham side which took on Scotland at Chester-le-Street.

England's substitute fielder ran out Ricky Ponting for 48 on Saturday, the Aussie skipper then launching a tirade as he left the pitch directed toward the England dressing room.

Ponting was forced to make a public apology for his heated outburst as tensions boiled over in the fourth Test.

Ponting was aggrieved to be run out by Pratt with the Australians concerned by England's regular employment of the 12th man throughout the entire tour.

He then appeared to say something to coach Duncan Fletcher on the home balcony after television replays confirmed his dismissal from a direct hit by one of domestic cricket's best fielders.

After his double rant, however, Ponting said: ''I am very disappointed with my dismissal given that it was at a crucial stage of the game and I had worked really hard to get to that position.

''I no doubt let myself down with my reaction and for that I apologise to those that view me as a role model."

And last night 23-year-old Pratt, from Willington, County Durham, watched England secure their Test win with his Durham team-mates in the dressing room at Riverside.

He said: "The win is fantastic. It is great for cricket. They are a great bunch of lads, very down to earth, and they make you feel part of the team. It is good just being round them.

"I just tried to stay relaxed and not get tense. I think that is why I was able to react quickly."

Pratt comes from a cricketing family; father Gordon was Durham's coaching secretary, brother Neil is player coach at Darlington and Andrew - a former Riverside team-mate has given up the game to train as a plumber.

Gordon, from Crook, said: "We are very proud of him.

"He is working very hard to make a career in the game.

"It was a good piece of fielding. All good professionals are good fielders but it was his day. He was lucky.

"There is a good coaching system for young players in cricket. A lot of people in this area have been very good to Gary. They have worked very hard with him."

Gary started playing when he was three and was first called up by England schoolboys when he was 13.

Trent Bridge is a lucky ground for him. He opened the batting for England Under-19s with current England number four Ian Bell, and scored his highest total 188 against the West Indies there.

His mother Brenda said: "People have been stopping me in the street and talking about Gary.

"His phone has never stopped and it has been just the same for us. People are very pleased for him."

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