Under-fire Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, has hit back at India, blaming their batsmen for the slow-over rate.

According to a news report in the Times of India, Ponting, who sent out part-time bowlers in the fourth Test rather than using his mainline bowlers, felt that the blame should be put on the Indians.

"I have said since I got back that there are a host of things that conspire against you in India. It is a hard place for fast bowlers to keep running in and get through their overs," Ponting said.

"The sightscreen and spectators play more of a part than they do anywhere else in the world. Their batsmen take up a lot more time than most opposition batsmen do. I mean runs cost you time as much as anything else. When a lot of boundaries are being scored that slows things down a lot," he added.
The Australian captain also claimed that slow-over rate is a concern across every team and that the relevant authorities should look into it.

"There is a great responsibility for everyone around the world to look at this over rate issue and make sure each team is doing the right thing by the game."

"I and our team have been as guilty as anyone for getting behind in our overs and making the game not as good a spectacle for the fans as what it could potentially be," said Ponting.