Ponting encouraged by maiden India ton
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Ricky Ponting celebrates reaching his century against India. (Getty Images: Michael Steele)
Australian captain Ricky Ponting says his maiden century in India was one of the most pleasing of his career.
Ponting scored 123 on the opening day of the first Test in Bangalore yesterday, his 36th Test century and 16th as captain.
He shared in a 166-run partnership with Simon Katich (66), helping Australia recover after the early loss of Matthew Hayden for a duck.
Australia heads back to the crease today at 4 for 254 in its first innings, with Michael Hussey unbeaten on 46.
Ponting came into the series averaging just over 12 in India and with plenty of pressure on his shoulders as a result.
He says he hopes yesterday's innings has set the tone for the series.
"Since I've been here there's probably been a bit of pressure on me as well," he said.
"There's been a lot of media speculation about my record here in India, so I guess all the hard work I've put in over the last two-and-a-half weeks has paid off for me.
"It's probably not so much an impact on them, it will probably have more of a positive impact on me for the rest of the series to tell the truth.
"At different times today when we were out there batting and the way our partnerships were going, it really was as if we were in total control of the game."
Katich said he believed Ponting was in for a big series and that he had been harshly criticised for his record in India.
"There's probably been a lot said about that but I think the tour that he played here seven or eight years ago, he was batting at six and it's a totally different ball game," he said.
"I think now that he's batting at three and he's done that for such a long time, I think there's no doubt he's going to have a massive series and I think today just showed that.
"We're expecting plenty more from him no doubt."
Late wicket
Indian seamer Ishant Sharma applauded Ponting's knock, saying "all good batsmen go through a rough patch, but they come out of it because they are so good".
"But the fourth wicket in the last over has evened up things a bit," he said.
"It was a very good effort on our part to concede just 254 runs in the entire day on a good batting wicket."
Ponting admitted it was disappointing to lose Michael Clarke for 11 in the final over.
"That was unfortunate, even mine (his wicket)," he said.
"I think there was only half an hour left in the day's play when I got out, maybe 10 overs.
"So we've lost two wickets in the last 10 overs which has probably left a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths, but we dominated the day which is satisfying.
"We have 250 on the board with six wickets in hand. Hopefully we can really press on and put a big total on the board."
Katich backed his captain's sentiment.
"Hopefully we can get 400 on the board," he said.
"Runs on the board here is always crucial in India and there's a long way to go in this game.
"Hopefully we can drag the innings out a bit as well because their batting line-up obviously is quite old and that's something that hopefully some heavy legs will work in our favour."
