Gavaskar hits back at Ponting, says Aussies rattled by India

New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Sunil Gavaskar today hit back at Ricky Ponting for his "uncalled for" remarks that the former India captain was no angel in his hey-days, saying the Australian skipper's comments were an indication that his side was "rattled" to find a challenger in India.

"I think it was totally uncalled for and it is showing the world that they are rattled," Gavaskar told the CNN-IBN.

The former Indian captain said Ponting's comments also smelled of publicity gimmick.
"I think they have been a champion side and suddenly they find that they have a challenger in India. And therefore, it's not just Ponting but all the other statements that we have heard from other Australians," he said.

"...Probably (they are) trying to sell their books or whatever it is," he added.
Ponting, in his just-published 'Captain's Diary 2008', has lashed out at Gavaskar and other former players for often blaming the Australian team for on-field confrontations.

"Unfortunately, as soon as a spectator or a commentator spots one of my team chipping on opponent, they assume it is a pre-meditated attack. The most laughable aspect is when I hear former players complaining, as though they never put a toe out of line in their day.

"I still have a vivid image of Sunil Gavaskar angrily trying to take his opening partner off the MCG with him in 1981 when he was given out lbw in a Test match, but to hear him today you'd think he was positively angelic when he was the best opening batsman in the world," he wrote.

Gavaskar pointed out that Ponting would not have a clear understanding of the incident as he was just a child then.

"Ponting was just seven-year-old when MCG incident happened. He does not know the background," he said

Ponting not a complete batsman, says Bhajji

Ricky Ponting might be regarded as one of the best modern-day batsman, but his nemesis Harbhajan Singh feels otherwise.

The off-spinner, who has always enjoyed an upper-hand against Ponting, said he did not consider the Australian captain a "complete batsman" because of his failure to play spin bowling.

"Ponting had a lot to say about our players and about the way we play our cricket. In fact, it is Ponting who first needs to go and learn to bat against spin bowling.

"He got a hundred in the first Test match in Bangalore but I don't think that is enough, he needs to comeback and score some more before he can claim to be a complete batsman," said Harbhajan, who picked up 15 wickets in the series which India won 2-0."I can get Ponting out any time, I think I can get him even after I come post a six-month lay off," Harbhajan told a sports channel.

Harbhajan said India drew inspiration from the Sydney controversy to beat the world champions in the recent series.Harbhajan was involved in the Monkeygate scandal during the Sydney Test earlier this year when the Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds accused the off-spinner of hurling racist abuse at him.Australia also had to cope with a lot of criticism for being unsporting even as India threatened to call-off the tour.

"I think the events in the Sydney Test match really hurt all of us. The things that they accused me of and their overall approach irked us as a team. The events at the Sydney Test match inspired this win."During the series, the Australians continued to play mind games. Adam Gilchrist and Symonds did it in their books while Ponting did in his captain's diary.

Harbhajan lashed out at them for employing cheap tactics to shore up the sale of their books."The whole team was infuriated by the claims made by Adam Gilchrist about Sachin Tendulkar. He is a legend and insulting him was a big mistake and Gilchrist accused him of things that he never did."

Australia fined for slow over-rate

The Australia team was fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 172-run defeat against India in the fourth and final Test played on Monday.

Skipper Ricky Ponting was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players will each pay 10 per cent as fine.

Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Ricky Ponting's side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

The offence is contrary to Section J of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to slow over-rates. For such offences, the decision of the ICC match referee is final and binding.

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Ex-players, media flay 'selfish' Ponting

In what could easily be his worst day in the office, Australia captain Ricky Ponting was flayed by former greats and the media here for putting himself ahead of the team.

Aware that Australia's sluggish over-rate in the final Test against India might earn him a one Test ban, Ponting's desperate efforts to set things in order saw him bowling with the part-timers and keeping his pace spearhead Brett Lee out of action for the entire post-tea session.

Former Australia skipper Allan Border, the game's longest serving captain, 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," he rued.

In '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.

"Rather than pressing home an advantage secured by dint of outstanding swing bowling and inspired spin in a fraught and fascinating afternoon session, the Australian captain preferred to use part-timers. Presumably, it was an attempt to improve an ailing over-rate. Perhaps he was worried about missing the next match," he said.

"Both issues pale into insignificance besides trying with every power at his disposal to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There was a match to win. To an almost bizarre degree, Ponting lost the plot," he wrote.

Another daily, 'Herald Sun', said Ponting should hang his head in shame for thinking of saving himself first.
"Ponting had every reason to hang his head in shame after allowing India to escape the noose in the crunch fourth Test.

"In his most embarrassing moment in his 48th Test as captain in five years in charge, Ponting opted to worry more about improving Australia's sluggish over-rate than going for broke to try and snare a must-win match when a result was clearly on the line.

"Ponting -- amazingly -- was more concerned about being suspended for next week's first Test against cricketing backwater New Zealand at the Gabba.

"What a joke. With wickets desperately needed, Ponting had to roll the dice and unleash chief strike weapons Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee or Shane Watson immediately after tea," it said.

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