Ponting Passes 13,000 Runs As Australia Dominate

Ponting Passes 13,000 Runs As Australia Dominate

Ricky Ponting scored his 13,000th Test run as Australia dominated proceedings on day one in Adelaide

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia 335-3 (Clarke 140no, Ponting 137no) v India
Fourth Test, Adelaide, day one
Scorecard

Ricky Ponting passed 13,000 Test runs as he and Michael Clarke both scored centuries to put Australia in a dominant position over India on the opening day of the fourth Test in Adelaide.

Ponting was unbeaten on 140 and Clarke made 137 not out as the hosts closed on 335 for three having been reduced to 84 for three in the morning session.

The early departures of Ed Cowan (30), David Warner (8) and Shaun Marsh (3) put Australia under pressure before the pair put on an unbroken stand worth 251 for the fourth wicket.

Ponting became the third man, after India's Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, to pass 13,000 runs during the course of his innings.

He faced 254 balls, hitting 13 fours while Clarke faced 188 balls with 19 fours and a six.

It was India, however, who made the best start to the day after being asked to field as Zaheer Khan had Warner trapped in front and Ravichandran Ashwin bowled Marsh within the first over.

Cowan and Ponting began Australia's recovery, putting on 53 for the third wicket before Cowan was caught by VVS Laxman as Ashwin struck again.

Thereafter, however, Australia held sway.

India made two changes to their line-up, Ashwin replacing Ranganath Vinay Kumar and Wriddhaman Saha in the side in place of the suspended Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Australia, who lead the series 3-0, played off-spinner Nathan Lyon as Mitchell Starc was left out.

© Cricket World 2012