Shane Warne has smoothed over a potential rift with Ricky Ponting after he criticised the Australian captain's field placements for the spinner Nathan Hauritz on Wednesday. During the final day in Bangalore, as India moved towards victory, Warne tweeted that he was feeling sorry for Hauritz: "How the hell can hauritz bowl to this field??"
But as Ponting later explained, Hauritz himself had asked for the very fielders that Warne was upset about. On Thursday, Warne said he was only responding to questions from fans and that he had made up with Ponting after the match, which Australia lost by seven wickets.
"Me and Punter swapped a few SMSs last night," Warne told Australia's Channel Nine. "We're mates, we're going to disagree a few times, it doesn't mean suddenly we hate each other and things like that."
Warne also said that despite Australia losing the series 2-0, he had not changed his opinion that Ponting's men could regain the Ashes this summer. The battle for the urn kicks off in Brisbane on November 25 and Warne said the Indian series should not have any effect on Australia's preparation.
"It's been hard work in India a few times," Warne said. "We got smashed all over the park as spinners. It's very difficult. Unfortunately to lose 2-0 to India is not great, but I don't think it will have an impact on the Ashes.
"Australia are always tough to beat at home. They're a pretty proud team. We've always been like that over the last 20 odd years that I've been playing. I think we'll give the Poms a run for their money out here."