MOHALI, Oct 21: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on Tuesday played down reports of a row with star fast bowler Brett Lee during the second Test against India here.

Australian media said Ponting prompted an outburst from Lee when he used all his bowlers except the paceman in the session before lunch on the fourth day.

“I will have to clarify this issue as people are trying to make more out of it that what it actually was,” Ponting said.

“We wanted to take the pace off the ball as the Indians were scoring very quickly. That is why I tossed the ball to Michael Hussey.

“I realised that I did not communicate that decision to Lee who did not understand what was going on.

“Once I walked up to him and communicated the decision, he was okay with it. Lee’s a champion bowler and we have no issues at all.”

The Sydney Morning Herald, which carried a front-page story headlined “How very disaPonting...

“Aussies crack under pressure”, said Lee’s clash with his captain was uncharacteristic of the paceman.

But it added that when all the other bowlers were given a chance against the Indian batsmen, he vented his frustration.

“By chance his captain was fielding a few yards away and Lee took the chance to remind him that he was fit, eager and had in his time claimed a few scalps — more than the rest put together, as a matter of fact,” the paper said.—AFP