Repeat of Mohali as Lee forced to keep out of attack

Nagpur, Nov 9 (UNI) The final match saw a repetition of the Mohali Test, at least for Australian speedster Brett Lee who was kept out of action in the final session of the fourth day's play against India here today.

Realising that the Australians were far behind the required over-rate, stand-in captain Michael Clarke opted for part time bowlers over his strike bowler and Lee could do little but see his team receive hammering by Harbhajan Singh and Mahendra Singh After tea, Ponting didn't return immediately and his deputy Michael Clarke was in charge.

India was reeling at 166 for six at tea and Lee expected that he would be given the bowl to finish off the home team batting.

However, spinners Jason Krezja and Cameron White were preferred over him and later even Michael Hussey and Clarke got an opportunity to bowl.

In the 55th over, the pacer asked Clarke why he was not being bowled, to which the acting captain explained him that it was not possible as Australia was 10 overs behind the over-rate.

In the Mohali Test also, Lee was kept out of action for the entire morning session on day four which led to an animated discussion between the pacer and Ponting.

Former Australia captain Allan Border slammed Australia's approach and instead argued that the visitors should not have allowed the over-rate to rise to such an extent that their strike bowler could not get a bowlin such a crucial match.

''I don't know what to make of all this. They go into the tea break on a high and come out worrying about the over-rate,'' Border said.

UNI XC RAR PY RAI2018