Ponting had a frustrating day and was at loggerheads with the officials

Australia coach Tim Nielsen defended the decision to use occasional bowlers to speed up their over-rate on day four of the final Test against India.

India were 166-6 at tea, 252 ahead, but Australia were worried by the slow rate and turned to Cameron White and Mike Hussey and India built a 382-run lead.

"I don't think for a second we haven't pressed for the win," Nielsen insisted.

"It's easy to poke fire at captaincy decisions but he has got responsibility to bowl the overs he has to bowl."

Nielsen admitted that his team were concerned that a continuing slow rate might lead to skipper Ricky Ponting being banned for a Test match.

Ponting was in charge of the side for all but a couple of overs of the day when Michael Clarke temporarily took up the captaincy.

606: DEBATE This is the second time a slow over-rate has prevented Australia from taking a grip Crouching-Tiger

"We'd used our fast bowlers before the tea break and had some success. The consequence of bowling our fast bowlers for most of the day before that was that we were down in our over-rate."

Looking ahead to the final day of the series, when Australia will be resuming on 13-0, requiring a further 369 runs to win, Nielsen said: "There's no way India can come here and bowl 20 overs because they feel we're going well.

"There's a responsibility for both teams, all teams, to make sure they bowl the 90 overs required in the spirit of the game."

One consolation for the Australians, who need to make the highest score ever to win a Test match in India, is the form of off-spinner Jason Krejza, whose match figures of 12-358 were the fourth best by a bowler on debut.

"The great thing for Jason is he has had six or seven weeks of bowling in Indian conditions," Nielsen enthused.

"He's been able to watch a spinner like Harbhajan bowl in Indian conditions and learned day-in, day-out about spin bowling."

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