Former captain Ricky Ponting has effectively accused Australia of defeatism during the ongoing fourth and final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The tourists boast a two-one lead in the four-match series – and are nearing another victory in the fourth.

Ponting was largely referring to tail-ender Nathan Lyon’s decision to not review an lbw decision, despite some evidence that he might not have been out.

‘That dismissal actually says a lot to me about the mindset of this Australian team at the moment. There’s no desperation there whatsoever,’ Ponting told Channel 7.

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‘Why wouldn’t they have had a look at that? They’ve still got the two reviews up their sleeve. There had to be some sort of doubt in that.

‘Given out straight away, and Mitchell Starc just puts his hand out and says “oh well, it’s not me, it’s up to you to make a call”. Well, unfortunately, when you’re out there together it’s a partnership.

‘You’ve got to do whatever you can to try and save your mate. And there was absolutely none of that there. And as it’s shown already that would have been given not out. Slack and not desperate enough.’

Seamer Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, is under pressure after taking just one wicket for 126 runs in Sydney. He took only two in the third Test, too. The form of Starc and others was the subject of a recent heated exchange between bowling coach David Saker and captain Tim Paine.

‘We talked quite heavily, more because we thought it was really disappointing and we just wanted to get our points across,’ said Saker.

‘Some of it was quite aggressive and that’s not like me usually. I was quite animated, and I know I was not the only one. Coach Justin Langer wasn’t happy. The bowlers know that.’

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