'I am not sure we let them off the hook. We did most things in our power. There wasn't much in that wicket. We batted on it on Saturday without ever really looking like we would lose a wicket. For us to create chances and to take seven wickets on the last day was a reasonable effort from everyone.'

But Ponting's irritation at failing to complete the task and his downright anger with what he regarded as time-wasting tactics from the England dressing-room gave way to admiration for Paul Collingwood, whose 344-minute innings of 74 was almost forgotten amid the incredulous praise heaped on the batting of James Anderson and Monty Panesar.

'It was a situation that suited Paul's game,' said Ponting.

'It shows a lot of courage I guess for someone like that to take the majority of the bowling and he got through to 12 overs from the end. He did a great job and deserves a pat on the back. He was very watchful and knew what job he had to do.'

The England captain, Andrew Strauss, endorsed Ponting's praise for Collingwood, saying: 'He just brought his character into his performance. He is a tenacious little red-head. That's the way he is and that's the way he plays. He never takes a backward step and he fights, he keeps fighting. That was his route into the Test team and it's kind of the only way he knows. In circumstances like that you almost expect him to do something along those lines and it just underlines his value to the side.'