Zia Rana

January 24, 2012

Ricky Ponting came back strongly in the current series and proved his worth in the team by smashing two centuries in the five innings he played.

The master blaster has thrashed exact 400 runs at the close of the first day’s play in the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval. He is the second highest run scorer at a devastating average of 100.00, the best of unbeaten 137 runs so far with two hundreds and two fifties. Only Michael Clarke has scored more runs than him and he is heading the table with 519 runs at an excellent average of 173.00 with the best of unbeaten 329 runs.

ricky Ponting came to the crease on the first day of the fourth Test at Adelaide on January 24, 2012, when Australia was in dire trouble and had lost two wickets at just 31 runs. He immediately got hold of the rival bowling and crafted his innings in style by contributing 53 runs for the third wicket with Ed Cowans.

The game was dominated as soon as Clarke arrived in the centre and both butchered the Indian attack at will. The 37-year-old dispatched his century on 164 balls with the help of 11 well placed fours.

He had scored 134 runs in the second Test at Sydney but has rated his century at Adelaide better than that while commenting as, “I felt I played better today than I did in Sydney, 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.”

Ponting is the only third batsman in the history of the game to score more than13000 runs. He has smashed 13056 runs at a super average of 53.07, the best of 257 runs with 41 centuries and 60 fifties. He is just 206 runs behind the wall of Indian batting, Rahul Dravid who had dispatched 13262 runs while the little master Sachin Tendulkar is ruling the cricket world with 15432 runs.

Australia was in commanding position at stumps on the first day of the Adelaide Test by posting 335 runs for the loss of just three wickets. Their two master blasters Ponting and Clarke were still at the crease while achieving tons. The ex-Captain was at the crease with 137 and the present Captain was unbeaten on 140 runs at the other end.

Ricky Ponting was pleased by his performance in the ongoing Test and made it clear that he has no plans for immediate retirement by commenting, “How did I know I’d come here and get asked questions about retirement?” Ponting, 37, laughed at the first question of the close-of-play press conference. I won’t be retiring at the end of this Test match.”

Australia has won the previous three Tests against India and Ponting has played a key role while giving sterling performances with the bat and his contribution at Adelaide may well lead his team to a white wash.