A lot had been predicted about the ongoing
Border-Gavaskar Series even before it began. Talks about Australians being the underdogs and bringing their “weakest ever” touring side to India were free and open. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting not only had the task of helming his team to their ninth successive test series victory but also some personal issues to resolve.
Ponting was widely talked about as the choker in the team, given his average in the eight test matches he has played in India is only 12. The series win is still a distant dream but Ponting has shushed his critics already. The talented Tasmanian scored a splendid
123 in the first innings of the first match of the series. His score, besides doing wonders to his record in India has put his team in a comfortable position in the match.
Ponting came as a resolute man on the field when Matthew Hayden went back to the pavilion while Australia still hadn’t opened their account. Australia had won the test series against India earlier this year by a narrow margin. So here was Ponting under pressure from all directions: he had to salvage the innings and match, rub the stains from his records and continue the
Australian victory rampage . He tottered initially and that was visible when a man known for his fierce attacking game was seen fishing and driving. As the wicket settled, so did the Aussie. He used his feet to tackle spin and everything that came around his feet on the leg was slaughtered mercilessly. Ponting might not have flourished had the wicket at other end kept falling regularly. Simon Katich provided him the stability and security to play in his usual flamboyant style.
Despite of his breakthrough performance, he maintains his vulnerability to Harbhajan Singh, who claimed his wicket the ninth team in his test career. For once, Ponting appeared confident against the Turbanator and after playing some feisty shots off his deliveries obliged him with his wicket. This is Ponting’s first test century on Indian soil and his 36th overall. He is now the most potential successor to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most test centuries (currently 39). With the
Master Blaster slightly out of his magic and Ponting on a killing spree, the records may soon have to be written again!
