Ponting ends India lean trot with crafty century
Skipper Ricky Ponting ended his run drought on Indian soil with a
superb century as Australia came back strongly after a shock start in
the first Test on Thursday.
Ponting hit 123 to steer the tourists away from the first-over
dismissal of Matthew Hayden to a more comfortable 254-4 by stumps on the
opening day at the Chinnaswamy stadium here.
Ponting, who won the toss and elected to take first strike in good
batting conditions, put on 166 for the second wicket with Simon Katich
after Hayden was caught behind off the third ball of the match.
Left-handed Katich justified his selection ahead of Phil Jaques by
following up back-to-back centuries on the preceding tour of the West
Indies earlier this year with a dour 66.
Ponting added 60 for the third wicket with Michael Hussey (46 not
out) before he was trapped leg-before by Harbhajan Singh in the final
session, the ninth time the Australian captain fell to the off-spinner.
Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan trapped Michael Clarke leg-before in the
day’s last over, at which time the umpires called off play.Ponting set
aside a disappointing average of 12.27 in eight previous Tests in India
to compile his 36th career Test century, just three behind record holder
Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 39.
It was the Australian captain’s 200th Test innings, making him only
the fourth batsman from his country after Allan Border and the Waugh
brothers, Steve and Mark, to achieve the feat.
Ponting’s 16th century as captain enabled him to stamp his authority
at the start of the four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,
which Australia won in India in 2004 and again at home this year with
identical 2-1 margins. The only time Ponting looked in trouble was when
India appealed for a return catch as the batsman, then on 110, drove a
half-volley back to bowler Anil Kumble, the Indian captain.
With no TV review system in place for the series, umpire Rudi
Koertzen consulted his colleague Asad Rauf before turning down the
appeal, indicating Ponting had played the ball down into the ground.
The highly anticipated series began in dramatic fashion when Zaheer
had veteran Hayden caught behind before the 25,000-strong crowd had
settled down.
Pakistani umpire Rauf took time to raise his finger as Hayden stood
his ground, but TV replays suggested a faint edge before the ball
carried to wicket-keeper Mahendra Dhoni.
Katich’s vigil ended just before tea when he poked at a ball outside
the off-stump from seamer Ishant Sharma and the edge was easily taken by
Dhoni.
Ponting, who was on 94 at tea, reached his century in the first over
after the break when he took a four and three off the listless Kumble,
who conceded 84 runs in 27 wicketless overs.
Australia left out off-spinner Jason Krejza from the 12 announced on
Wednesday to give Victorian leg-spinner Cameron White his Test debut.
AUSTRALIA - 1ST INNINGS
M. Hayden c Dhoni b Zaheer 0
S. Katich c Dhoni b Sharma 66
R. Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 123
M. Hussey not out 46
M. Clarke lbw b Zaheer 11
Extras: (lb5, nb2, w1) 8
Total (for four wickets) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Hayden), 2-166 (Katich), 3-226 (Ponting), 4-254 (Clarke).
Bowling: Zaheer 17.2-4-39-2 (nb1, w1), Sharma 16-3-49-1,
Harbhajan 25-6-71-1, Kumble 27-4-84-0, Sehwag 4-0-6-0 (nb1).
BANGALORE,AFP
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