They have accused us of playing for records, playing for money, playing for sponsors and playing for eyerything that doesnt matter. Australia has always portrayed itself as a team which play to win, a team which keeps records aside and play for the nation. But will ponting's actions today change that notion and maybe will cost him his captaincy. The ever arrogant australian captain Ricky Ponting crossed the epitome of selfishness when he let the nagpur test possibly slip away from australia to save himself from a possible 1 test match suspension!



4th day of the last test match at Nagpur. Indians were struggling for 166/5. The stakes were high-

-> A possible test match victory

-> A victory that would level the series

-> A victory which would have meant australia keeps the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the 3rd time in succession

-> Finally a victory which would have justified Australia's top position in the test rankings



But ponting in a desperate attempt to save himself from a fine or a possible 1 match ban due to slow over rate didnt give the ball to his strike bowlers after tea and let the match slip away from australia. It was late in the afternoon when he gave the ball to Watson and soon after the Indian tail got out but by then the damage has been done.

Ponting have always been blamed for slow over rates. In this series his various tactics are being questioned including leaving kretza out of the squad for 1st 3 matches. There was an ugly spat between him and Brett lee which the whole world saw. To top it all his not in the best of form. Apart from 123 in bangalore he has scored only 135 runs in 7 innings at a miserable average of 17!!