Speaking at the launch of Ponting's new book, Captain's Diary, Sutherland hit back at critics who suggested the captain put himself before the team and possible victory in using part-time bowlers to speed up the over-rate after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test defeat.

"He is a player who has always put the team first and he has never measured success by personal statistics," said Sutherland.

"Any suggestion that he put himself first ahead of the team last week in Nagpur is completely off beam and can only come from someone who does not know him or understand him."

Ponting rated the barrage of criticism as equal to the controversy surrounding the acrimonious January Test against the Indians in Sydney.

"Sydney was probably the most difficult time I've had to deal with as an Australian captain and an Australian player and I'm probably confronting the other one right at the moment," he said. "The fact some people would come out and say I put myself above the team is the thing that has annoyed me the most. I don't mind people sitting back and saying things about the tactics I might employ in a day's play – that's what commentators and commentary is all about.

"But when they infer that I've put myself ahead of my team that's pretty hurtful."