Ponting trying to divert attention from Oz failure: Flower

London, July 15 (ANI): Reacting for the first time after a spellbinding climax in the Cardiff Test, coach Andy Flower has said that Australian skipper Ricky Ponting by accusing the England team of delaying tactics, is trying to deflect attention from Australia's failure to take the wicket they needed to go ahead in the Ashes series

The England's team director totally rejected the assertion that his side was guilty of gamesmanship if not cheating.

"I am a little surprised at all the hullabaloo over it, to be honest. From my own perspective, in that last hour of the game, there was no time wasting by us. Have a look at the footage yourself. Never did we consciously try to waste time," he said.

Flower was upset by the allegations of Ponting, who said in the immediate aftermath that England's behaviour in twice sending out their 12th man in the closing stages was "pretty ordinary."

Ponting also suggested that the issue should be taken up with the England hierarchy, The Independent reported.

"He has got his own opinion, and I respect his opinion. He is a very good cricketer and has been a very good ambassador for Australia. But in this instance, I think he has made a meal of it," Flower said.

Flower added that Ponting was making far too much of it and deflecting attention from what really mattered - England's great escape and Australia's failure to take the wicket they needed to go ahead in the series.

Flower seemed perplexed by the attention that has been given to England's decision to send on the 12th man, Bilal Shafayat, in successive overs, the second time accompanied by the team physiotherapist, Steve McCaig.

"Most teams in those situations, you have batsmen talking in the middle for extended periods, knocking down the pitch, changing gloves, getting drinks, which all waste time. At no stage in the last couple of hours did we do that," Flower said.

"The second point, was that there was perceived confusion out in the middle about what time the game was going to end. We needed to get messages out to them to make sure they were clear." (ANI)