Meanwhile, Australia’s captain-in-waiting Michael Clarke said the world champions went through an excruciating emotional roller-coaster in the past couple of weeks as they battled an image crisis and saw their 16-Test winning streak halted by a resolute Indian side.

“It’s been a hell of a ride. I don’t think many players have experienced what we’ve experienced,” Clarke was quoted as saying in The Courier Mail, as he reflected on a tumultuous couple of weeks for the Aussies. Clarke said not many can understand what his team went through as it struggled to cop with the disturbing situation. “I know, I have copped it ... you don’t know how you will handle that sort of stuff until you are in the chair,” Clarke, whose image took a beating after he claimed a contentious catch of Ganguly in Sydney, said. The right-hander found support in former Australian players with ex-skipper Steve waugh saying no matter what was said about the right-hander, he remained a worthy successor to Ponting.