Ponting ends his drought and improves his average

Nov 10

16:23

2008

Veshma Bhimsingh

After the first-over dismissal of Matthew Hayden for a duck, Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich foughtback on day one of the first Test. Ponting ended his drought on Indian soil with a superb 123 to steer the tourists to a comfortable 254 - 4 by stump on the opening day at the Chinnaswammy stadium..

Ponting elected to take the strike first after winning the toss, put on 166 for the second wicket with Simon Katich. Left handed Katich scored 66. Ponting added 60 for the third wicket with Michael Hussey (46 not out) before he was trapped lbw by Harbhajan Singh. It was the ninth time the Australian Captain has fallen to the off-spinner.

Ponting set aside a disappointing average of 12.28 in eight previous Tests in India to compile his 36th career Test century, just three behind record holder Sachin Tendulkar.

There was no time that Ponting looked more like the batsman who has dominated attacks everywhere in the world but India than when he brought up his half century with a classic cover drive.

Ponting celebrated his first century in India while completing his third run before raising his bat in triumph. Not only had he kept his vow of improving his average in India, but he had also broken a record. The century was Ponting’s16 as Captain, he was previously tied with Steve Waugh and Allan Border on 15.

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