Ponting, Clarke score centuries

Tons by Ponting and Clarke have destroyed India. Now India is fighting back to wall.

India face an uphill task Down Under. Against genuine pace bowling, their batsmen are faltering and except for some luck by the pacers, there is nothing for India to brag about

Clarke had progressed to 251 and Aussies are 482/4 !. India is flattened.

Gavaskar had opined that things look bleak for India Down Under and his prediction has been proved right. Indian batting and bowling Down Under gives scope for alarm and despondency. India is formidable in India and a paper tiger abroad !

An enthused Clarke said " "Hopefully, it would earn me respect. That's all I can do - to put the team in a good position to win another Test. Punter had told me while I was starting as skipper that as a leader, I should be standing up in the field, leading from the front and scoring runs. That's what I have tried to do".

Can he score a triple ?

A visibly overjoyed Ponting said "There have been plenty of frustrating moments. It's not when you get out early. It's when you have had a decent start and not capitalized. It's a game where the low scores are always going to happen. But when you are 40, 50 and 60, the great players make big scores. The last few weeks have been frustrating. I was getting starts but not capitalizing."

"I was probably run-out by two yards (if the throw had hit the stumps while Ponting ran for his 100th run). I had a brain fade. Thankfully, the ball missed the stumps or it would have been pretty sad end. When I got up, my shirt was destroyed, the grill was pressed against my face and I changed my shirt which probably made it the whole day out for the crowd," said Ponting, who was at his jovial best.

"It was an unbelievable day. To make 1 for 366 during the day was special. Michael (Clarke) batted as good as ever in any game. The way we batted, we repaid the bowlers in setting this game up," said Ponting.

"Michael came last night. It was a huge little period for us. We were three down for not many. The momentum had begun to swing in favour of India. We played our natural games, showed great intent and also managed to score reasonably quick. It was the same this morning. Our scoring rate was very good and we are taking the game forward all the time. That's the way we want to play." said the whirlwind master batsman.