Defiant Ponting hits back at critics
Ricky Ponting feeling the pressure
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Monday, 10, Nov 2008 10:28
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has defended his decision to bowl part-time bowlers during a crucial period of the fourth Test against India.
A resurgent Australia had India struggling at 166/6 in their second innings, with Shane Watson and Brett Lee both getting reverse swing and bowling well. But Ponting decided to then throw the ball to the likes of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke because he realised that his team were down on their over-rate.
Ponting faced the possibility of being banned for a Test match due to the slow over-rate, but his decision to bowl the likes of Hussey and Clarke, ultimately let India off the hook as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh batted India to a winning total.
Ponting, who has come in for a massive amount of criticism for his decision, said afterwards: "The thing I'm most disappointed about is that there seems to be this inference out there that I've put myself totally ahead of the team.
"Anybody who knows me or knows the way I play my cricket or operate around the Australian team or any team would hopefully not say that's the case. Nine overs to me is totally unacceptable. So, there's a lesson in it for everyone.
"I'm a little bit disappointed with some of the criticism, particularly from former Australian captains. I had Jason Krejza bowling at one end and Cameron White, who had been the number one spinner in the first three Tests, operating from the other. That didn't work out the way I'd have liked.
"In the situation when we were nine overs behind, as captain of the Australian team I feel I have a lot of responsibility to play the game in the right spirit. I have an obligation to try to bowl 90 overs in the day."
In the end, Ponting's decision to give so much priority to the over-rate backfired as not only did Australia lose the Test match and the series, but also match referee Chris Broad decided to fine Ponting 20% of his match fee and 5% of the match fee for the rest of the Australian players as they still ended up slow in their over-rate.