Cricket: Warne slams Ponting on Twitter

Australian cricketing great Shane Warne says he's explained his Tweets criticising Ricky Ponting to the Test captain.

Warne sent a series of Tweets during the fifth day of Australia's seven-wicket second Test loss to India in Bangalore on Wednesday criticising the fields Ponting had set for off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

"How the hell can Hauritz bowl to this field??" Warne wrote on Twitter.

"Feeling for Hauritz , terrible !! What are these tactics ? Sorry Ricky but what are you doing."

But the champion leg-spinner said he'd explained to Ponting the Tweets were just in response to fans asking his opinions and the pair had discussed the issue.

"Me and Punter swapped a few SMS's last night," Warne told the Nine Network on Thursday.

"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 said despite the 2-0 series loss to the Indians which had seen Australia drop to fifth on the ICC world Test rankings, he was still confident in a home win during this summer's Ashes tour.

"It's been hard work in India a few times. We got smashed all over the park as spinners. It's very difficult," he said.

"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."

Ponting responded after the Test loss to India, saying Hauritz's fields were all of his own choosing.

"Every field that Nathan has had to bowl with since he's been here has been at his request - it's the field he wants to bowl to," said Ponting.

"Unfortunately it doesn't appear that Shane would take the time to ask anyone about that."

- AAP