Ponting highlights 'fake' India attitude

Ricky Ponting has accused India's early-series attitude of being "fake" after their behaviour turnaround during the third ODI on Friday. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's captain, publicly complained about "harsh words" from some of the Australians during the 47-run loss, but Ponting claimed Chris Broad, the match referee, congratulated him for the way his side approached the game.

"As soon as there were any words said on the field, Dhoni ran straight to the umpires and complained straight away, so they've gone from one extreme to the other in a matter of two days," Ponting said in the Sydney Morning Herald. India's players began the series wanting to take on the aggression of Australia and in the first two matches the actions of S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh were particularly animated.

Ponting was surprised by India's double standards. "If the Indians can play the sort of cricket they did play for the first couple of games and then completely turn around and go the other way in the other games, it showed us how fake, if you like, the first part of the series was as far as they're concerned."

He said he had been proud of his team during the series. "It's the actions on the field that matter," he said. "There's been a lot built up and made of this series, but when the tough moments have come on the field we've stood up."

Ponting also said as part of the team's spirit of cricket pledge the players tried to understand other cultures. "What they accept and what we accept are obviously poles apart sometimes," he said. "So it's important to understand that, but I thought the game [in Hyderabad] was, of the three we've played, the best one so far. And for a referee to congratulate you for what's happened on the field, that doesn't happen very often."