Ponting and Clarke put India to the sword again

Reuters: Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke both grabbed centuries and combined for 251 runs to drive Australia to 335 for three as India wilted in the Adelaide sun on the opening day of the fourth test on Tuesday.

A rejuvenated Ponting became just the third cricketer to score 13,000 test runs as he reached 137 not out, while Clarke, his successor as Australia captain, notched up his fourth century in eight tests with an unbeaten 140.

India’s hopes of salvaging a modicum of pride after losing the series with emphatic defeats in the first three tests looked bright when they removed Australia’s top order before lunch but melted in 37 degree Celsius heat in the afternoon.

Ponting’s 41st test century was far more fluent than the 40th, which he scored to end a two-year drought in the second test in Sydney earlier this month.

The 37-year-old, who scored his 13,000th test run with a swept single to deep square leg, brought up the hundred in 164 balls with his 11th four and doffed his helmet to accept a standing ovation from the crowd.