Shane Warne today ridiculed Ricky Ponting's captaincy as Australia crashed to their third successive Test defeat and slipped below England in the ICC rankings with the Ashes only six weeks away.
India's seven-wicket win in Bangalore today sealed a 2-0 series victory and left the Aussies with questions to answer before the action gets underway in Brisbane on 25 November.
Australian great Warne was so angry with Ponting's field settings when off-spinner Nathan Hauritz was bowling that he vented his fury on Twitter.
"How the hell can Hauritz bowl to this field," wrote Warne. "Feeling for Hauritz, terrible!! What are these tactics? Sorry Ricky but what are you doing?"
At times, Hauritz had a field with a deep point, long-on and long-off — meaning there were plenty of gaps for the Indian batsmen to exploit and bring their target of 207 closer — while also having a slip, short-leg and leg slip.
Warne and Ponting occasionally clashed about tactics during the Ashes series in 2005 and the former Test leg-spinner's words will not be welcomed by the skipper.
While Australia are far more formidable opponents at home, losing three Tests in succession is virtually unheard of Down Under. Australia's last two defeats, in Mohali last week and in Bangalore today, came after they were beaten by Pakistan at Headingley in July in the drawn series.
Sachin Tendulkar followed up his double-century in the first innings with an unbeaten 53 to guide his team home, at one point hitting Hauritz for successive sixes.
Debutant Cheteshwar Pujara laid the foundations with 72, taking the home team to within 61 runs of their target before Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who finished 21 not out, did the rest.
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England's players would have been watching with interest. Speaking at last night's Chance To Shine Annual Awards at Lord's, batsman Paul Collingwood expressed confidence that England would retain the urn.
England have not been successful in a Test series in Australia since 1987 but Collingwood is convinced Andrew Strauss's team will set a new standard.
"I am certain we can come back with the Ashes," said Collingwood. "There have been times when the Aussies have rubbed our noses in it in Australia and we want to get into that position."
Kevin Pietersen's poor form last summer has left England fans on tenterhooks but Collingwood said: "KP will be back. Last time Tendulkar toured England, people said his eyes had gone. KP will play a massive part."
The ICC today concluded there was "no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff" after their investigation into scoring patterns in last month's third one-day international between England and Pakistan at The Brit Insurance Oval.
Graham Thorpe has been appointed the ECB's lead batting coach. Thorpe replaces Dene Hills, who joins Australia later this year, and will work with England players below the senior team.
