First Test Day One: Ponting smashes Century

Australia captain Ricky Ponting played a commendable innings as he hit 123, his first century in India, to help Australia reach 254-4 on the opening day of the first cricket Test in Bangalore.

Earlier Team India made a breakthrough in the very first over as when Matthew Hayden was adjudged caught behind off Zaheer Khan for a duck. But Ponting and Simon Katich (66) added a patient second-wicket stand of 166.

It was a determined effort from Ponting, who belied his previous Test average in India of just under 13 and gave his side an early advantage in this much-anticipated series.

"I'm as pleased with that innings as I probably have been with any innings I've ever played," Ponting said.

"I'd played eight tests here before with a highest score of 60, so I had some work to do. I had a point to prove to a few people as well.

"I've been working hard on getting a game plan and technique in place over the last couple of weeks to give myself the best chance to have success."

Ponting was lucky to survive a volley of nasty deliveries from Ishant Sharma. He got the benefit of the doubt when he offered no stroke and was struck on the pad. Zaheer Khan tried different angles of attack against Ponting - bowling over the wicket, around the wicket and with Dhoni standing up to the stumps, and belatedly found some movement with the old ball.

The Aussie skipper had another stroke of luck when umpire Rudi Koertzen turned down a caught-and-bowled appeal from Kumble, the South African official apparently judging it to be a bump ball. And by the 78th over, when Kumble turned to Sehwag's occasional off-spin as his fifth bowler, it was looking all too easy for Ponting and Hussey.

But the very next over, with 226 on the board, Ponting tried to sweep Harbhajan, was struck low on the front pad and Rauf raised his finger once more. However, Kumble eventually took the new ball three overs before the close - and with Hussey undefeated on 46, Clarke was trapped in front for 11 by Zaheer in the final over.