The Hindu : Sport : ‘I’m a little bit disappointed with some of the criticism’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport

‘I’m a little bit disappointed with some of the criticism’

Special Correspondent

Feels his wretched luck at the toss played a part
Defends his decision to bowl non-specialists

— Photo: AFP

Ponting.

Nagpur: Australian captain Ricky Ponting conceded that his side had been overwhelmed by India in the four-Test series, which was the world champion’s first series defeat since the 2005 Ashes.

“This tour we’ve just been totally outplayed,” said Ponting, after Australia was defeated by 172 runs in the fourth Test here. “With the exception of the first Test where we pretty much dominated, we’ve got back to level in other games but never really got in front.”

His wretched luck at the toss played a part, said Ponting. “Losing three tosses in a row if you don’t actually get yourself back in front after the first innings it’s very hard to win here,” he said.

“There’s no doubt they’ve used the conditions, they’ve used the ball, they’ve had a chance to bowl on older wickets, we’ve bowled first in the last three Tests where it’s hard to get the ball reversing till really late in the day’s play. Their batsmen have out-batted us as well,” he added.

Criticised by former Australian cricketers for putting self before the team when he chose to operate with non-specialists to ensure he wasn’t banned for a slow over-rate, Ponting defended the decision.

“To tell you the truth I’m a little bit disappointed with some of the criticism, particularly from former Australian captains and CA board members,” he said. “I had Jason Krejza bowling at one end, who ended up taking 12 wickets in the game. At no stage did I ever feel it was totally negative at the other end, with Cameron White I actually felt he’d be as good a chance as anybody of getting Harbhajan out.”

Added Ponting: “Being in the situation that we were nine overs down, myself as captain of the Australian cricket 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’s play. Anybody who knows me or knows the way I play my cricket would hopefully not say that I put self before team. I’d like to think as far as team players go there haven’t been many more that have ever played for Australia that would do more than I have for the team.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport