Want to make it big: Ponting
First Published : 24 Jan 2012, 22:54
Last Modified : 24 Jan 2012, 17:24
Adelaide, Jan 24: Ricky Ponting hit his 41st Test ton and became only the third batsman to cross the 13000-run mark on the way to an unbeaten 137-run knock at the Adelaide Oval today. The former Australia captain was involved in an unbroken 251-run stand with captain Michael Clarke as the duo took their team to a solid 335 for the loss of three wickets at stumps.
Excerpts from a chat with Ponting at stumps on Day 1:
On comparing his innings at the Adelaide Oval to the one in the second Test at Sydney
I think I played better today than in Sydney. Better conditions for batting today. [It was] very hot out there. The wicket was very good for us today. I started my innings pretty well today, got some good drives early on, got confident myself, pretty much in control through the innings. Michael Clarke batted beautifully again so we set the game up well for the team.
On what pleased him about the hundred
The things that [I] am working on have worked really well for me. It’s been a consistent summer for me this year. I am looking to convert 130-[odd] into a really big score tomorrow and that’s what I am really focussed on at the moment. I don’t think too far ahead. You can’t afford to lose a batsman. Hopefully I’ll turn this innings into a big one.
On whether the Indians bowled a bit too short, especially after lunch
[…] I thought Ashwin bowled really well right through the day. [There was] a bit of reverse swing through the middle of the day. Zaheer [Khan] didn’t bowl a lot when the ball reversed. I thought they were waiting for the new ball at the end of the day […]. We want to make sure we bat for the first one hour or so and if we do that, we will be setting up the game really well.
