FEELING THE HEAT: Australia skipper Ricky Ponting (left) makes a point during an animated conversation with his pace spearhead Brett Lee on the fourth day of the second Test in Mohali. Lee was not impressed by his captain's decision not to bowl him during the first session yesterday. PIC/SURESH KK

Wonder whether Australia have suffered such a forgettable day of Test cricket in the recent past if you put aside the Perth Test loss to India earlier this year.

Indeed, the heat was on with the Indians at their aggressive best against the old enemy. Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh bowled splendidly to break the back of the Australian batting but it appeared the world's best team had an internal problem too.

The Australian newspaper reported a clash between captain Ricky Ponting and injured (split webbing) fast bowler Brett Lee. "Australia's rapidly deteriorating tour of India has been marred by an on-field confrontation between Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee. The acrimonious exchange came on a day when India charged towards a massive victory in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"Match referee Chris Broad investigated the agitated send-off bowler Harbhajan Singh and several Indian fielders gave Matthew Hayden as Australia's batting began to capitulate.

"The fast fading world champions will resume on the final morning in a seemingly hopeless position of 5-141 at stumps after being set a historically impossible victory target of 516," the report said.

Apparently, Lee was not impressed by his captain's decision not to bowl him during the first session of the penultimate day when India were going for some quick runs to rule out all chances of an Australian victory. Lee is the only bowler in the current team to have come on a Test tour to India although he didn't get a look in on the 2004-05 tour which Australia ended up winning.

"Ponting walked across from cover in an increasingly animated conversation as the captain stood with his arms out and his palms up.

"When White claimed the wicket of Gambhir caught at mid-off, Ponting tried to talk to Lee in the team huddle that gathered around catcher Hussey.

"But Lee kept walking away from Ponting in scenes reminiscent of the clash between then captain Allan Border and his fast bowler Craig McDermott during a county match on the 1993 Ashes tour. On that occasion Border yelled after his paceman: "Don't walk away from me or you'll be on the next plane home," the report said.