Ponting and Clarke punish India
Australia's Ricky Ponting became only the third player in history to
pass 13,000 Test runs on Tuesday as he and captain Michael Clarke put
India to the sword in the final Test in Adelaide.
The resurgent Ponting posted his 41st Test century -- his second in
three innings -- while Clarke raised his 19th Test ton, which follows an
unbeaten triple hundred in the second Test in Sydney.
The experienced pair shared in a ground record fourth wicket
partnership as Australia, chasing a 4-0 series whitewash, plundered the
Indian attack to finish on 335-3.
At the close on a sweltering opening day, Ponting was unbeaten on 137
off 254 balls and Clarke 140 off 188 balls.
India, who lost their top Test ranking when they were crushed 4-0 in
England last year, face their eighth consecutive away defeat if they
fail to prevent another Australian victory this week.
Ponting and Clarke batted through the last two sessions of the day to
add 251 runs together, following their stand of 288 in Sydney.
"I felt I played better today than I did in Sydney," Ponting said.
"It was probably a better wicket to bat on today, there wasn't much
in it for any of the Indian bowlers.
"It's been a really good day for us and we have to make sure we win
the first hour tomorrow and make sure this first innings is a big one."
To underline the gulf between the two sides, Australia's batsmen have
posted six centuries in the series while India have still to register
one.
Ponting, who went two years without a Test hundred before the Sydney
knock, is the third batsman to reach the 13,000-run career milestone
after Sachin Tendulkar (15,432) and Rahul Dravid (13,262) -- both of
whom were on the field when the former Australia skipper passed the
mark.
India, looking to restore some pride after humiliating defeats in the
first three Tests, enjoyed some early success with two wickets in the
first 10 overs before Ponting and Clarke wore them down on a typically
flat Adelaide batting strip.
Adelaide is a happy hunting ground for Ponting, who has now scored
six of his 41 Test hundreds in the City of Churches, including a knock
of 242.
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