Ponting slammed for using part-time bowlers

In what must be Ricky Ponting's worst day as national captain, he was accused by former greats and the media for thinking of saving himself from being banned for a match due to slow over-rate rather than striving to win the fourth Test against India in Nagpur by using his best bowlers.

Ponting used part-timers to try and improve a dreadful over-rate which would have seen him suspended from the first Test in Brisbane against New Zealand later this month. This played right into India's hands when they boosted their total to 295 after being 166 for six at one stage.

With nine overs behind the required rate, Ponting turned to Cameron White and Mike Hussey immediately after the tea break and they bowled in conjunction with frontline spinner jason krejzas in a bid to hurry through the overs.

Allan Border, the game's longest serving captain and the man who shares the Trophy's name, said Ponting should have attempted to win the match and not worried about his suspension.

"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.

"They let a golden opportunity slip," Border said.

Writing for 'Sydney Morning Herald', noted cricket writer Peter Roebuck slammed Ponting for sacrificing the country's interest for personal gains.

"In one of the most baffling displays of captaincy seen in the long and proud history of Australian cricket, Ricky Ponting has denied his side a deserved chance of securing a famous victory.