Ponting's problems with tailenders continue

Apart from what happened in Mohali yesterday, tailenders have given nightmares to Ricky Ponting in the past 18 months.

Apart from what happened in Mohali yesterday, tailenders have given nightmares to Ricky Ponting in the past 18 months.u00a0

Ishant Sharma, who put on 81 runs with VVS Laxman

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar says it is difficult to replace bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. "The current lot of Aussie bowlers are really good, but it is difficult to replace legends. It is not fair to blame Ponting or his bowlers," he told MiD DAY. "Full credit goes to Ishant Sharma for the way he hung around, this sort of a knock will take his confidence higher."

Meanwhile, Vengsarkar paid special tribute to VVS Laxman, saying: "Sometimes I feel he writes his own tale, his own destiny. He won us a Test match against Sri Lanka few months back, and now this is one of his best efforts ever.u00a0 I'm not sure how he is able to always deliver his best."

Let's take a look at some instances where tailenders frustrated Australia.

Bangalore Test, 2008
India were 195-6 in the first innings with their backs to the wall when Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh struck blistering fifties to lift India to 360. The match was drawn and Australia had no such chances in the remainder of the series which they lost 2-0.
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Melbourne Test, 2008
South Africa recovered from 184-7 to post a mammoth total of 459 - taking a first-innings lead of 65 runs in the process. South Africa won the Test by nine wickets.

Cardiff Test, 2009
The last English pair of James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted for 11.3 overs to deny Australia an inevitable 1-0 lead in the Ashes. England went on to win the series 2-1.