Besieged Australia captain Ricky Ponting has received support from an unlikely ally, with his New Zealand counterpart Daniel Vettori insisting his long-time rival would never put his own interests ahead of the team cause.

Speaking at the completion of his side's gruelling net session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday, the experienced left-arm spinner faced a barrage of questions from Australian reporters all hungry for his take on the Nagpur debacle.

"It's always hard to comment from the outside but I think the ultimate goal is to win a game," Vettori said of Ponting's decision to employ part-time bowlers after tea on day four against India in a bid to improve upon a sluggish over-rate."

Australia crashed to a 172-run loss in the fourth Test on Monday to suffer a 2-0 series defeat - their first series reverse since the 2005 Ashes.

But with his squad set to face Australia in the first Test of the upcoming two-match series starting in Brisbane next Thursday, Vettori was reluctant to provide the world's top-ranked Test team with any extra motivation.

Had the slow over-rate continued, Ponting could have faced a one-Test ban, leading to accusations he put himself ahead of the team.

"From knowing Ricky I don't think he would have had any selfish reasons for not bowling anyone, he was just trying to get through the over rates," added Vettori.

"Most people will sit back and say they'd try to win the game but it's always different when you're put in that situation."

Pressed on whether he considered Ponting's tactics out of character, with the match - and indeed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy - hanging in the balance, Vettori replied: "He's a pretty ruthless guy and I think any chance he can to get a win he'll take it.

"So I suppose that's why people are sitting back here and questioning (him). He is a ruthless captain, a very good captain and obviously a great player."