By IANS,
Nagpur : Ricky Ponting Monday defended his decision to bowl part-timers at a crucial juncture on the fourth day of the last Test against India even as he draws flak from Cricket Australia (CA) and former cricketers.
Ponting, who would have invited suspension for the team’s slow over-rate, bowled with part-time bowlers when India were struggling at 166 for six at one stage.
But Ponting said he bowled the part-timers because they put some impressive performances in the series.
“To tell you the truth, I’m a little disappointed with some of the criticism, particularly from former Australian captains and CA board members,” Ponting said after India beat Australia by 172-run to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“The thing I’m most disappointed about is that there seems to be this inference 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,” he said.
CA chief executive James Sutherland said he is yet to speak to Ponting on the issue.
“I have not had a chance to talk to Ricky on Monday about what went on during the tea break and what the messages were that came from the umpires.”
“It’s not something I do every day, but at various stages I see that’s part of my responsibility as chief executive, just to get a feel (for the situation).”
“But clearly he and (coach) Tim Nielsen, who are the leaders on the ground there, in terms of those tactics, they would have made whatever judgments they thought were most appropriate in the circumstances.”
Former Australia skipper Allan Border, the game’s longest serving captain, said Ponting should not have worried about his suspension over over-rate.
“I don’t know what to make of all this. They go into the tea break on a high and come out worrying about over rates,” Border said.