Avoiding suspension played a role: Ponting
Australia captain Ricky Ponting told Grandstand the threat of being suspended was reason enough to change his tactics following tea on day four of the Nagpur Test.
The tourists were enjoying a surge in momentum on the fourth day with India struggling at 6 for 166 at tea and leading by 252 runs when Ponting chose to bowl Jason Krejza, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Cameron White instead of his pacemen in an effort to quicken Australia's slow over rate.
India re-grouped and eventually set a victory target of 382 runs and Ponting's decision to ignore pace in favour of his slow bowlers immediately after tea has been seen as a pivotal reason behind Australia's 172-run defeat to India, who reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
You can listen to Ponting's full interview with Grandstand's Glenn Mitchell below:
Click here to download the interview.
Ponting says he did not want to risk possibly being suspended, given the fact he had been informed by the umpires his side was nine overs behind schedule at tea.
"I don't want to be reported on the cricket field, I don't want to miss a game for Australia," he said.
"So those things taken into account probably gives you an idea why I made the decision I made."
Ponting, who felt his decision had been "blown out of proportion" by the media, says it is important to him that Australia respects the "spirit of the game".